Sir Harold Evans Confirmed as Keynote Speaker for AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical
Evans — Former President of Random House — to Speak About Future of Newspapers and Books
Evans Knighted for Contributions to Journalism Field
July 20, 2009 (Decatur) — Journalist, author, and knight of the realm Sir Harold Evans has been announced as the keynote speaker at the 2009 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (DBF). The keynote address will take place in Agnes Scott College’s Presser Hall Friday, September 4, at 8:00 p.m. The event is free, but tickets will be required for admission and can be obtained at the following local bookstores: Bound to be Read, A Cappella Books, Outwrite, Blue Elephant, Little Shop of Stories, and Charis Books.
The festival will be Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6.
“We are ecstatic to have Sir Harold Evans delivering the keynote address this year,” said DBF Executive Director Daren Wang. “Considering the uncertain future of the printed word, his vast body of knowledge and experience in the fields of publishing and journalism make him eminently qualified to deliver the keynote address.”
Evans has served as editor of The Sunday Times and president of Random House, Inc. The contributions he made to the field of journalism during his expansive six-decade media career earned him the knight of the realm designation that precedes his name in 2004, making him “Sir” Harold Evans.
Evans is the author of the critically acclaimed book The American Century. Fortune named it one of the best books to be published in the 75 years of the magazine’s existence, and it was made into both a television mini-series and an NPR special. Sir Evans’ new book, My Paper Chase: True Stories of Vanished Times, is soon to be released.
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
