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Interested in Submitting a Book?

The 2026 Decatur Book Festival’s Keynote and Kidnote will take place on Friday, October 2. The Decatur Book Festival will be on Saturday, October 3. It is our mission to encourage a love of reading, inquiry, and conversation in people of all ages, and to build an enthusiastic and inclusive community of readers and writers, sparking social, creative, and intellectual engagement.

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As an author, there are multiple ways to participate in the festival. 

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The DBF will present approximately 80 authors at the annual event on October 3, from Atlanta, from Georgia, and beyond, whose books are published within a year of the Festival. All authors who are invited to participate will be featured in a panel or solo session; the Festival does not feature authors for book signings only. Submissions are open until June 30, 2026. 
 

Authors are also encouraged to apply to be an exhibitor at our Street Fair on October 3. For more information on becoming an exhibitor, please visit - https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/exhibitor. We encourage early applications as space will fill up.

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Book Submission Information

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Please read all of the following information before submitting a book for consideration to the Festival.

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How is a book considered? 
 

To be considered for the Festival, please submit or have your publicist submit all of the following: 
 

1. Two physical copies of a finished book/galley/ARC/manuscript mailed to the below:
 

Decatur Book Festival

Attn: Submissions

500 S. Columbia Drive

Decatur, GA 30030
 

2. ​​A completed online submission form. After reading the information and FAQs, you can submit a title at the form below. 

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Due to the high number of submissions received, DBF is unable to acknowledge receipt. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Your submission will not be considered complete until we have received all of the above materials. Submitted materials will not be returned. 

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When a book is selected for the lineup, the Literary Director will be in contact with the publicist or author.

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When should a book be submitted?
 

To be considered, a book must be published within 12 months prior to the start of the Festival. Authors should ideally have a new or forthcoming book releasing in Fall 2026. Titles published earlier in 2026 or in late winter 2025 may also be considered, though fall releases align best with the festival dates of October 2–3, 2026. 
 

Once the lineup for the Festival has been announced, we no longer accept submissions for that year’s event. The bulk of invitations go out in the summer, and our programming team will be in touch as festival planning progresses. 
 

Who decides which authors are invited?

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DBF’s Literary Director considers the submissions and, with the assistance of a Programming Committee composed of authors, writers, educators, and other literary arts professionals, chooses who will be invited and who will moderate. 
 

When evaluating submissions, we consider not only a book’s literary merit but where it might fit in with the other work in the lineup. We strive to present a wide and diverse array of genres, perspectives, and audiences, and submission does not guarantee an invitation to participate. It is our mission to encourage a love of reading, inquiry, and conversation in people of all ages, and to build an enthusiastic and inclusive community of readers and writers, sparking social, creative, and intellectual engagement. 
 

The bulk of invitations go out in the summer, and our programming team will be in touch as festival planning progresses.
 

What types of books are considered?
 

  • Fiction, including all genres such as thrillers and romance

  • Narrative nonfiction—history, biography, memoir, and essays

  • Poetry

  • Children’s Literature, from picture books to middle grade and young adult

  • Art and Architecture titles

  • Cookbooks
     

What types of books are not considered?
 

Books strictly of academic or religious interest will not be considered. We do not consider books that use art (including cover art) and/or written content created by artificial intelligence (AI). 
 

We typically do not accept books published through self-publishing platforms and services. However, exceptions have been made. We welcome all author submissions that meet the below criteria: 
 

  • The book has, or will have upon publication, an EAN barcode, an ISBN, and a LCCN number. 

  • The title is bound, and printed copies are available, or will be available, for purchase via an established wholesaler or distributor so our partner bookstores can sell them. 

  • The book has been professionally edited and a marketing plan is in place. 

  • The author maintains an accessible website. 


Questions?

Contact us: programming@decaturbookfestival.com

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