Behind the Book Festival this week
The first-ever Behind the Book Festival will be held on June 11 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., in Glen Bruce Park. The festival will feature book signings, author panels, book readings and more. The keynote speaker is Raquel Vasquez Gilliland – the winner of the Pura Belpre Young Adult award.
Gilliland is a Mexican-American poet, novelist and painter. She received her MFA in poetry from the University of Alaska, Anchorage in 2017. She’s most inspired by fog and seeds and the lineages of all things. When not writing, Gilliland tells stories to her plants and they tell her stories back. She lives in Tennessee with her beloved family and mountains.
“We want to share the work of regional authors and illustrators with the community and this festival will provide us with the opportunity,” said Kate Woodworth, librarian and one of the coordinators of the festival.
The Kingsport Public Library held a number of online Behind the Book events last year, with each one featuring a discussion with a regional author or illustrator to find out more about their published works. This first-ever, in-person event will feature more than 20 regional authors.
The festival is sponsored by the Kingsport Public Library and the Friends of the Kingsport Public Library. For more information visit www.kingsportlibrary.org or call 423-224-2539.