Decatur Book Festival Previews 16 Authors Participating in 21st Anniversary Festival

The first glimpse of the 2026 DBF lineup includes Pulitzer Prize winners, bestselling authors, a U.S. Poet Laureate, and beloved children's writers

DECATUR, GA. — July 16, 2026 — The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) has shared the names of 16 authors presenting at its 2026 annual Book Festival, scheduled for October 2–3 in downtown Decatur. The sneak peek includes Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Goldstone in a keynote session on Friday, October 2; critically acclaimed children’s authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko in DBF’s beloved “Kidnote” on Saturday, October 3; #1 New York Times–bestselling author Tomi Adeyemi kicking off the festival morning for our young adult readership; the 25th United States Poet Laureate Arthur Sze; and, as an exciting cap to the day, the award-winning Tayari Jones. All festival sessions are free and open to the public; advance registration is encouraged for the keynote on Friday, October 2.

The full lineup and schedule will be announced on August 18, 2026, with more than 70 award-winning and celebrated authors from around the country. Festivalgoers can once again look forward to author panels, book signings, and activities for all ages. The event is free to attend. All book signing lines require a purchase of the author’s latest book. 

The authors announced today are: 

• Tomi Adeyemi, The Siren 

  • The new novel from an acclaimed, three-time instant #1 New York Times–bestselling author blends shocking contemporary storytelling with a sinister dark academic flair to create a blockbuster about rage, longing, and a woman’s darkness that will leave readers breathless.

• Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko, I Am a Good Dog: A Dogtown Book 

  • Metal Head, a robot dog in the Dogtown shelter, longs to find a forever home in the New York Times–bestselling series that has already found a home in readers' hearts.

• Marcia Chatelain, How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington 

  • From a Pulitzer Prize–winning author comes the little-known story of the pioneering Black women artists and activists who were seen, but barely heard, at the 1963 March on Washington. 

• Ryan Douglass, Night of Madness 

  • Teen influencers compete in a horror movie–themed overnight competition, only to realize the real test is staying alive in this chilling, blood-soaked horror novel.  

• Brian Goldstone, There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America

  • Through the stories of five Atlanta families, this Pulitzer Prize winner by a former Decatur resident exposes a new and troubling trend—the dramatic rise of the working homeless in cities across America. 

• Meherwan Irani, No. 1 Best Indian Cookbook in the World: At-Home Recipes from the Streets, Truck Stops, Villages, and Palaces of India 

  • Co-owner of the highly acclaimed Chai Pani Decatur restaurant, this James Beard Award–winning chef shares more than 100 of his recipes for at-home chefs.

• Tareasa “Reesa Teesa” Johnson, What (TF) Do I Do Now?: Reclaiming Myself, One Piece at a Time

  • The creator of the viral TikTok series “Who TF Did I Marry?” shares an even more unfiltered account of how she reclaimed herself, fought through toxic relationships, and regained her foundation through healing and deep self-reflection.

• Tayari Jones, Kin

  • From an Emory professor, this magnificent new novel (and Oprah’s Book Club pick) sparkles with wit and intelligence and deep feeling about two lifelong friends whose worlds converge after many years apart in the face of a devastating tragedy. 

• Pedro Martín, Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir

  • In this extraordinary graphic memoir companion to Newbery Honor winner Mexikid, hilarious family hijinks, immigration patrols, and musical daydreams shape a year of growth and change for a Mexican American boy and his family.

• J.Tom Morgan, A Rainy Night in Georgia: A Lawman's Brutal Murder, a Rogue Southern Sheriff, and a Prosecutor's Quest for Justice

  • Part true crime thriller, part memoir of public service under fire, this gripping book follows the aftermath of Derwin Brown’s murder in December 2000. What began as a baffling unsolved murder evolved into one of the most extraordinary political assassination cases in modern American history after a shocking discovery. 

• Steven Raichlen, Man on Fire: Of Life, Love, Literature, and Really Good Barbecue

  • This fascinating memoir by a global grilling authority and PBS TV host reveals how a kid from Baltimore—armed with a degree in French literature—launched a barbecue revolution worldwide.

• Eliot Schrefer, Fatal Glitch: Let's Play a Game 

  • Black Mirror meets Goosebumps in this fast-paced middle-grade horror series. In this standalone installment, AI has infiltrated the newest toy craze—a stuffed animal with spooky capabilities and more sinister intentions. 

• Arthur Sze, Transient Worlds: On Translating Poetry

  • U.S. Poet Laureate delves into his signature project, as well as his personal guide to poetry in translation in this unique anthology that showcases a profound goal of global literary citizenship: to open works up to all readers and to encourage poetic creativity at the fundamental level of language itself. 

• Aiden Thomas, Cemetery Boys: Espíritu

  • With restless spirits vanishing and a dark demon from their past emerging, Julian and Yadriel might be the only ones reckless enough to stop a threat that could tear their world apart. 

• Nghi Vo, The Scarlet Ball

  • This all-consuming tale of ballrooms and bloodshed weds The Gilded Age with the Gothic vision of Guillermo del Toro.

    
    

In addition to these authors, DBF is proud to celebrate the 2026 winners of the Lillian Smith Book Awards with a session in partnership with the Southern Regional Council, University of Georgia Libraries, and DeKalb County Public Library/Georgia Center for the Book. 

DBF will also have sessions partnered with Georgia Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Georgia Humanities shares and supports programming that engages all ages and backgrounds to explore what shapes us as individuals and binds us together as Georgians. 

“For twenty-one years, the Decatur Book Festival has brought together authors and readers for this beloved literary event,” said Executive Director Bailee Yarbrough. “DBF remains committed to keeping literature accessible to all members of the Greater Atlanta area with this free book festival. We’re especially excited about the success of the City of Decatur’s WatchFest and the new stage downtown. Our children’s programming will take place on the new stage at the Square, and programming for all ages will happen around downtown.” 

“This free, family-friendly event will get everybody excited about books and reading. There’s something for everybody at DBF,” said Literary Director Anna Dobben. “We’re featuring some of the year’s best books, including fall titles that will officially go on sale after the Book Festival—DBF will be the early place to buy a copy of your new favorite read!”

DBF is proud to partner with Brave + Kind Bookshop, Charis Books & More, Eagle Eye Books, and Little Shop of Stories as this year’s featured booksellers. 

The Decatur Book Festival is presented by the City of Decatur, Visit Decatur, Decatur Downtown Development Authority, DeKalb County, LuluMa Foundation, DeKalb Library Foundation, Georgia Center for the Book, Atlanta Writers Club, Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, Georgia’s Own Credit Union, SouthState Bank, and Delta Community Credit Union. 

As a nonprofit organization, DBF welcomes financial and in-kind supporters at every level, with an individual giving campaign coming this summer. For sponsorship and partnership inquiries, please contact bailee@decaturbookfestival.com.

About the Decatur Book Festival

The Decatur Book Festival has grown into one of the most beloved independent book festivals in the country, bringing together literary enthusiasts for an inclusive celebration of books and ideas every fall in Atlanta’s eastside gem of Decatur, Georgia. The 2026 Festival will take place on October 2–3, featuring award-winning and bestselling national, regional, and local authors; book signings; an expansive street fair; and children’s programs that are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit decaturbookfestival.com.