2018 file photos courtesy Harbor Springs Festival of the Book
The vision is simple, the results, extraordinary. The Harbor Springs Festival of the Book is a celebration of readers and writers that takes place each fall, bringing dozens of authors and illustrators to the shores of Little Traverse Bay for a weekend of great conversations, creative sparks, and literary fanfare.
This year, the Festival will welcome 53 presenters to downtown Harbor Springs for three days of “pure magic,” noted executive director Amy Gillard. From September 27-29, the town will be transformed into a community gathering place for good books (and readers who love them). Most events are free, and span interests, genres, and ages, with one thing in common: each is designed to be a must-listen event.
“We have such unique presentations happening this year; including seven people who have been nominated for a National Book Award in everything from poetry, fiction, children’s literature to non-fiction,” Gillard said.
While every festival feels like it is “the best yet,” Gillard said she’s “incredibly excited for every single event this year.”
“Poetry, in particular, is just going to be amazing,” she noted. “And across all genres, our literary director, Katie Boeckl, and our author committee, have put together such thoughtful, interesting panels and discussions. Seeing the authors that have been paired together, well, I can tell you the conversations that will happen are going to make for some very special experiences.”
Tickets for the Festival keynote speaker, Elliot Ackerman, have been selling fast, Gillard noted. The Friday evening event features National Book Award finalist Ackerman in conversation with Benjamin Busch; Ackerman’s lasted release is a nonfiction work, Places and Names: On War,Revolution,and Returning. Ackerman is a Marine and formerWhite House Fellow who was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star of Valor. (Harbor Light feature writer Emily Meier interviewed Ackerman in the Harbor Light issue of Sept. 18, 2019)
“I’m also really looking forward to the panel discussion called, ‘Conversations in our World Today’ at the Lyric Theatre on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. It features Tina Chang, Ben Fountain, Amitav Ghosh, and Mitali Perkins, so it includes poets, essayists, and novelists. They are going to be having a wide-ranging conversation about some of the most pressing issues of our time, life.”
Gillard was quick to add that attendees “simply can’t go wrong” with any panel or presentation.
The Festival offers plenty for all-ages, and one of its guiding principles is supporting the literary arts in education. This means that in addition to all of the events created for the community, an entire day of school activities is also part of the annual experience.
“We have 22 authors doing 40 sessions for Kindergarten through 12th grade students,” Gillard said. The Festival’s dedication to young people extends beyond just Harbor Springs, with students in Pellston, Alanson, Inland Lakes, Wolverine, and Petoskey all having author and illustrator experiences.
The Harbor Springs Festival of the Book will welcome 53 authors and illustrators into town September 27-29. Most of the events are free and open to all; tickets are available for the keynote event at the Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 27; as well as “soup and stories,” a luncheon event, and a cocktail reception at the all-presenter signing event. A full schedule and presenter bios are available at www.hsfotb.org and the schedule is on page 20. (File photos courtesy Harbor Springs Festival of the Book)
In addition, the Festival’s “Books for Schools” program will deliver more than 1,200 new books to area students, thanks to more than $20,000 in donations for the program.
Nathan Fairbanks, principal of Shay and Blackbird Elementary in Harbor Springs, said he loves the way local school districts can partner with the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, leveraging the weekend “to help ignite a passion for learning that we will carry with us throughout the year.”
“During the week, our students will participate in several activities: fourth grade will be hosting a poetry slam and an ‘escape room.’ The escape room is ‘The Lost Mummy,’ and it ties into our author visit on Friday with Russell Ginns, and his book, Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans,” Fairbanks said. “We also have daily events going on in Kindergarten-fourth grade: mystery guest readers, a ‘caught reading’ photo booth, ‘shelfies’ (pictures of students’ home bookshelves), bookmark making, and Warren Petoskey presenting for us at Blackbird.
“All of our activities lead up to Friday, when our students will get to visit with authors and illustrators who are attending the festival.”
Fairbanks said the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book is an example of what makes this region such a special place to live, and educate. The Festival also provides donated books thanks to a fund the organization
“It is amazing that such a wonderful event happens in our local community,” he said. “Our school is blessed to have a partnership each year that is focused on literacy and the academic development and growth of our students.”
The full schedule of the Harbor Springs Festival of the book is available online, with event descriptions, at www.hsfotb.org. The schedule is also included on page 20.
