Program Highlight:
Storybook Look: Illustrations by Southern Artists
To celebrate the third annual Decatur Book Festival, The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur opens “S... Read more
AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical’s Popular Writers Conference Returns, Featuring World Class Writers, Including David Fulmer, Kaylie Jones, and John Kessler
Jones to Deliver Keynote Address
Authors and Experts to Discuss Memoirs, Food Writing, Screenwriting, Vulgarity, Graphic Novels, and More
August 13, 2009 (Decatur) — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical’s (DBF) Writers Conference features an impressive assortment of free workshops and panel discussions, offering invaluable tips to everyone from the aspiring literary neophyte to the experienced penman. An all-star lineup of authors including Kaylie Jones, David Fulmer, and John Kessler will unveil juicy tidbits of literary advice.
“We’re thrilled to have so many amazing authors conducting workshops this year,” said DBF Executive Director Daren Wang. “The tremendous diversity of subject matter offers something of interest to writers of every genre and level of experience.”
The festival will be held Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6.
The Writers Conference track kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday with a keynote address about the art of writing a memoir by Kaylie Jones, author of five novels (including A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries) and a new memoir, Lies My Mother Never Told Me. Following her keynote address, participants will attend one favorite selected from the nine different workshops being offered — which must be pre-registered for — before heading to the courtyard for cocktails and conversation.
Friday night will close with the delivery of the festival’s central keynote address by publishing legend and journalistic giant Sir Harold Evans, who will speak about the future of books, newspapers, and print publications as a whole.
Award-winning novelist and writing teacher David Fulmer will give up the good, bad, and ugly when it comes to writing about sex, violence, and profanity in his multi-faceted presentation titled “Sex & Violence: Writing About Them Without Sounding Like a Virgin Pacifist.” Because Fulmer's a show-don't-tell kind of guy, he'll be joined by Atlanta's finest acting talent to give dramatic and comic readings of the inspiring — and offending — passages. It's an R-rated program, so no one under 18 will be admitted. A fainting couch and earplugs will be provided.
Atlanta’s own John Kessler, an award-winning AJC food columnist, will examine three of the most common forms of food writing: the restaurant review, the topical food story with recipes, and the personal food essay in a delectably informative workshop that includes a flash writing exercise.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) instructor and cartoonist Chris Schweizer will discuss approaches to creating a graphic novel from planning to execution, including character design, layout, and storytelling.
Atlanta-based novelist and screenwriter Philip Nutman has worked in TV and film for 25 years. In his interactive seminar, he will discuss cinematic storytelling and what makes a good screenplay.
Though all workshops are free, you must register to reserve a space. To register, send your name and the name of the workshop you would like to attend to workshops@decaturbookfestival.com. View the complete list of workshops.
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
