The third annual New Orleans Book Fest at Tulane University lit up the uptown campus March 14-16, with more than 150 local, regional and national authors and thought leaders, 90+ thought-provoking panel discussions, book signings, a culinary symposium and Family Day festivities with puppet musicals and story time.
As the official national media partner for this year’s festival, The Atlantic opened the event Thursday evening with a panel discussing the great American novels of the past 100 years.
Renowned authors, politicians, musicians, chefs and more shared their stories throughout the weekend, including guests such as Stacey Abrams, Kwame Alexander, Ken Burns, Liz Cheney, Steve Gleason, Maggie Haberman, Donna Brazile, Sal Khan, Michael Lewis, Terry McMillan, Gen. David Petraeus, Jake Tapper, Amor Towles, Tank Ball, Big Freedia and Edgar “Dook” Chase IV. The weekend also saw cross-over panels with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and partner events with Tulane Libraries, including a “living library” exhibition where people told their personal stories live.
The Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, wrapped up the festival with a musical celebration with true New Orleans flair and crawfish.
Here’s a look back at some memorable festival scenes.
(Photos by Kacie Fayard, Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee, Cheryl Gerber, Beebe Tran, Lauren Wood, Eric Bordelon, Jared Lyons, Jason Cohen, Bruce France, J.R. Thomason)
The uptown campus bustled with activity for the three-day festival, which welcomed literary lovers from near and far.
The Atlantic, the festival’s official national media partner, opened the event Thursday night with “The Atlantic Conversations.” Author and Tulane professor Jesmyn Ward (right) spoke with moderator and The Altantic journalist Jemele Hill (left) for a panel titled “Open Minds: Protecting the Freedom to Read & Learn.” Festival Co-Chair Walter Isaacson, The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic editors and authors also discussed the great American novels of the past 100 years and other topics.
Former U.S. Representative for Wyoming Liz Cheney spoke with Festival Co-Chair Walter Isaacson, Leonard Lauder Professor of American History and Values at Tulane, at a packed session titled “Oath and Honor.”
Jessica Norwood, CEO and founder of RUNWAY, smiles while signing a copy of her book, “Believe-in-You Money,” for attendees in the Hyatt Regency Festival Tent.
Author, entrepreneur and former Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, Stacey Abrams spoke with MSNBC journalist Lawrence O’Donnell for a session titled “The Political Thrill: A Deep Dive Into the Novels of Stacey Abrams.”
Attendees, including many Tulane students, browse books for sale by featured festival authors.
Former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason (center) shares his ALS journey before a packed Dixon Hall crowd at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane. Gleason is the co-author of “A Life Impossible: Living with ALS,” with Times-Picayune sports columnist Jeff Duncan (far right). Also pictured are Gleason’s wife, Michel Varisco Gleason (right), and WDSU sports anchor Fletcher Mackel (left), who moderated the conversation. New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, honorary co-chair of the Book Festival, introduced the panel.
An ecstatic young reader enjoys the book “Goodnight Pothole” at Family Day.
Grammy-winning singer Irma Thomas, known as the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” closes out the festival before a standing-room-only crowd at the Hyatt Regency Festival Tent.
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