Decatur Book Festival Inaugural Book Club Bash Makes Huge Splash

Emily Giffin, Joshilyn Jackson, and Susan Rebecca White Enthrall Crowds

360 Attend Hit Bash, Registration Fills to Capacity

July 20, 2009 (Dunwoody) — 360 eager book lovers packed the Marcus Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody Thursday, July 16 for the Decatur Book Festival ‘s first Book Club Bash. Authors Emily Giffin, Joshilyn Jackson, and Susan Rebecca White entertained the crowd and discussed many topics with book clubs from all over metro Atlanta.

The free event was an instant success, as all spots were reserved several days before.

“We’re thrilled with the overnight success this event has become,” said DBF Executive Director Daren Wang. “This kind of public support really exemplifies the strides we have made in our movement toward a more year-round presence.”

The Book Club Bash featured a panel of popular local authors talking about how they relate to book clubs and to fans in general. Giffin (Love the One You're With), Jackson (The Girl Who Stopped Swimming), and White (Bound South) shared insights from an author’s perspective with attendees.

Themes of literary synergy pervaded the evening, as there was discussion among book club leaders about what goes into making a good book club, and among bookstores and libraries on how they can help book clubs.

The Book Club Bash is a key part of the Festival's movement toward a more year-round presence, bringing authors and readers together in innovative ways.

The 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical will be held Sept. 4-6, and will include a keynote speech by Sir Harold Evans and a tribute to Eudora Welty by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Claire Holley, Caroline Herring and Kate Campbell.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical is the largest independent book festival in the country and the fourth largest overall. This year, more than 300 authors and tens of thousands of festival goers will crowd the historic downtown Decatur Square to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, an interactive children’s area, live music, parades, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more.

Interviews available upon request.

• Fourth Annual DBF Dates Announced
• 2009 Festival Set for Labor Day Weekend
• Sir Harold Evans Confirmed as Keynote Speaker
• Festival to Feature Tractor-Themed Parade
• Mary Chapin Carpenter to Perform
• DBF to Feature Culinary Stars Nathalie Dupree and Shirley Corriher
• Decatur Book Festival Inaugural Book Club Bash Makes Huge Splash
• Writers Conference Returns, Featuring World Class Writers
• Festival to Feature “Good ol’ Girls” Marshall Chapman and Jill McCorkle
• All-star Lineup of Young Adult Authors to Present at Festival
• Festival to Feature David Fulmer’s First Public Reading of Storyville Play
• Top Authors Launching New Books at Festival
• Free Concert, Southern Picnic With International Twist to Close Festival
• Festival to Feature Business & Personal Economy, Civil Rights, and Parenting Tracks
• Festival Adds Modeling Moms Event
• Festival to Feature Dynamic Poetry Track Loaded with Distinguished Talent