2015 Presenting Authors Announced!

The Kansas Book Festival today announced September 12th from 9AM-4PM as the date for the fifth annual event. The festival will be held at the Kansas Capitol Building in Topeka, and will feature current authors and books and will be focused on reinforcing the importance of reading.

“Our mission is to promote literacy and encourage a life-long love of reading,” said First Lady Mary Brownback. “The festival is a key way that we are able to live out our mission. Being in our fifth year, we’re seeing an increased interest from authors, publishers and attendees. We have a great lineup assembled of locally and nationally known authors and illustrators that everyone will enjoy.”

Headlining this year’s event will be mystery novelist Sara Paretsky (Brush Back, due out July 28). Paretsky was raised in Kansas and is a University of Kansas alumna. She is credited with transforming the role and image of women in crime novels. She currently resides in Chicago.

More than 30 authors are set to speak, including James Beard Foundation winner, restaurant owners and cookbook authors Colby and Megan Garrelts (Made in America), Nancy Geise (Auschwitz #34207-The Joe Rubinstein Story) Kansas Notable Book winner Barbara Stuber (Girl in Reverse) and children’s author Angela Cervantes (Gaby, Lost and Found). Along with author presentations, there will also be additional authors featured as vendors, book sales and signings, entertainment, live music, appearances by storybook characters and activities for children of all ages. This event is free and open to the public. Last year’s event drew an estimated 2,000 people.

For a complete list of authors, click here.