Join us on Oct. 18, 2008 for the Gwinnett Reading Festival, featuring authors and fun events for all ages! Below are a few of the highlights from the 2007 festival. Watch for 2008 festival information, coming soon.
| Main Stage | Coffee House | |
| 10:00 am | Welcome/ Lisa Earle McLeod |
Real Georgia: Baseball, Music, Crime, and More Bill Osinski, Tim Darnell, Jim Miles, and Steve Goodson |
| 11:00 am | Carmen Agra Deedy | Love and Lit: Powerful, Transformative, Terrifying, and Wonderful Electa Rome Parks, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Karen White, and Stephanie Bond |
| 12 noon | Ann B. Ross | Real Men Read: Powerful Storytelling for Men (and Women) Jackie K. Cooper, Jack McDevitt, Philip Lee Williams and William Rawlings, Jr. |
| 1:00 pm | Magician Ken Scott | It's a Mystery: Why We Care "Whodunit" Jim Daher, David Fulmer, Patricia Sprinkle, Fran Stewart, and Jaclyn Weldon White |
| 2:00 pm | Mark Childress | The Debut Novel: From Idea to Page to Shelf. Diane Thomas, Jennifer Patrick, Renee Dodd, River Jordan, and Brian Corrigan |
| 3:00 pm | The South Will Rise Again: The Literary South, That Is! Panel Discussion with Terry Kay (moderator), Joshilyn Jackson, Julie Cannon and Judson Mitcham |
Festiville
Visit the Festival Library Branch to obtain a Gwinnett County Public Library card and learn about the
terrific services available from your local public library.
Attend a session of People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos.
This reading and discussion program is offered in English and Spanish, creating unique access to literature.
Participants draw upon their own experiences to discuss short stories. Discussions take place from
10:30 am-noon; from 12:30 pm-2:00 pm; from 2:30 pm-4:00 pm. Storytime offered for children of participants.
Workshops
11:00 am-noon
Tim Daly on Gardening
1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Remarkable Georgia Women
2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Mark Braught/Laura Knorr
Illustrating Children's Books
| Children's Stage | Teen Tent | |
| 10:00 am | Lionheart Theater Company | Dance Dance Revolution Guitar Hero |
| 11:00 am | Visit Carmen Deedy on the Main Stage |
Cosplay Contest |
| 12 noon | Storyteller Rob Cleveland | Guitar Hero Dance Dance Revolution |
| 12:30 pm | Meet Andy Armadillo | Guitar Hero Dance Dance Revolution |
| 1:00 pm | Visit Magician Ken Scott on the Main Stage |
LOL@Your Library; Teen Read Week Contest |
| 2:00 pm | Storyteller Rob Cleveland | Dance Dance Revolution Guitar Hero |
| 2:30 pm | Medieval Times - Princess Tales | Dance Dance Revolution Guitar Hero |
| 3:00 pm | Medieval Times (cont.) | Laughing Matters Comedy Troupe |
Out and About
Sumo suit wrestling, beginning at 10:00 am.
Medieval Times demonstrates competitions, including the Medieval sport of jousting. Begins at 11:00 am.
Quidditch,
without the broomsticks. This adaptation of Harry Potter's favorite sport combines ultimate Frisbee, dodgeball, keep-away,
soccer, football, basketball, and
Trivial Pursuit. Starts at noon and continues throughout
the afternoon. Audience involvement is half the fun.
Continue Into the Evening with
Festival of Leaves
Complementing the First Annual Gwinnett Reading Festival is the Festival of Leaves from 4 pm to 10 pm in historic downtown Lawrenceville. Brought to you by Gwinnett County Public Library and the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association, this celebration features a literary lecture by popular Georgia author Terry Kay, extended downtown shopping hours, and great live musical entertainment on the courthouse square. The Terry Kay lecture begins at 7:30 pm in the historic courtroom. Tickets are $5.00 and are available at all library branches or by calling 770-978-5154.
