The Missouri Literary Festival is proud to release its schedule of events for Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4.
The Festival offers something for everyone – children’s authors and programs; renowned poets, novelists and biographers; how-to workshops; Western writers and Cowboy Poets; inspirational writers; business writers; photographers; sports writers; humorists and more.
Saturday, Oct. 3
Regular Festival Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Get Your Read On! Enjoy creative activities, stories and more for children, tweens and teens all day at Hammons Field.
To Read a Mockingbird. Enjoy our marathon public reading of Harper Lee’s classic “To Kill A Mockingbird” at the Readers Corner on the Hammons Field Grand Concourse.
9-10 a.m.
Poet Marcus Cafagna, author of “The Broken World” and “Roman Fever”
Nature Photographer John Hess, author of “The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin’s Tapestry”
Juvenile fiction writer J.B. Cheaney, author of “The Middle of Somewhere”
10-11 a.m.
Two-Time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, author of “Ballistics”
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
J. Terry Johnson, author of “Cardinals Fever,” at the Hammons Field Team Store
11 a.m – Noon
A Gathering of Local Writers features readings of original works by Missouri State University writers
Mystery writer William Bernhardt, New York Times bestselling author of “Capitol Conspiracy” and “Criminal Intent”
Instructional writer Judy Brunner, author of “Response to Intervention Tiers One and Two: Helping All Students Understand and Remember What They Read”
Children’s writer Louise Jackson, author of “Exiled! From Tragedy to Triumph on the Missouri Frontier”
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Special Event: Brunch with Laura Shapiro Enjoy culinary insights from food writer Laura Shapiro, author of “Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century” and the biography “Julia Child,” at The Creamery Arts Center while savoring a delicious brunch by Gallery Bistro Chef Peter Tinson. Tickets are $25
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Missouri Poet Laureate Walter Bargen, author of “The Feast” and “Theban Traffic”
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Missouri Poet Kevin Prufer, author of “National Anthem” and “Little Paper Sacrifice”
Mad Science activities in the Children’s Area
1-2 p.m.
A Gathering of Local Writers features readings of original works by Missouri State University authors
Novelist Katie Estill, author of “Evening Would Find Me” and “Dahlia’s Gone”
Political writer Ken Rutherford, author of “Humanitarianism Under Fire: The US and UN Intervention in Somalia”
Comic book artist and caricaturist Tielman Cheaney
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Children’s author and poet David Harrison, author of “Pirates” and “Cave Detectives”
2-3 p.m.
A Gathering of Local Writers features readings of original works by Drury University writers
Two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins addresses prepared students
Novelist Daniel Woodrell, author of “Winter’s Bone” and “Tomato Red”
Children’s writer Kate Klise, author of “Regarding the Fountain” and “Deliver Us From Normal”
3-4 p.m.
Novelist Robert Dalby, author of “A Piggly Wiggly Wedding”
Western writer Dusty Richards, author of “The Horse Creek Incident”
Photographer Julie Blackmon, author of “Domestic Vacations”
Children’s writer Judy Young, author of “The Hidden Bestiary of Marvelous, Mysterious and (maybe even) Magical Creatures”
3-5 p.m.
Write, Edit, Publish: A How-To Panel featuring Moderator Kate Klise and panelists Moira Bailey, Suzann Ledbetter Ellingsworth, Jody Feldman, Clarissa French and Kelly Knauer.
4-5 p.m.
Brad Gooch, author of “Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’Connor”
Richard Paul Evans, author of “The Christmas Box” and “The Gift”
Missouri Literary Journals and Their Missions featuring Craig Albin, Speer Morgan, Kevin Prufer, Kristine Somerville and Lanette Cadle
7-10 p.m.
Special Event: Meet the Authors Gala — Mix and mingle with the festival authors in a convivial cocktail atmosphere on the Prime Plaza. Enjoy the free exchange of ideas with our literary lions, plus delicious drinks and hors d’oeuvre. Tickets are $75
Sunday, Oct. 4
Regular Festival Hours: Noon-4:30 p.m.
Noon-4:30 p.m.
Get Your Read On! Enjoy creative activities, stories and more for children, tweens and teens all day at Hammons Field.
To Read a Mockingbird. Enjoy our marathon public reading of Harper Lee’s classic “To Kill A Mockingbird” at the Readers Corner on the Hammons Field Grand Concourse.
Noon-1 p.m.
Cait London, best-selling romance writer, author of “For Her Eyes Only”
Noon-2 p.m.
Cowboy Poetry, featuring members of the Missouri Cowboy Poets Association; Francine Roark Robison, Cowboy Poet Laureate of Oklahoma; Reverend Dr. Steven Spalding, the Cowboy Preacher; Richard Dunlap; and Jake White
1-2 p.m.
Remembering Tony LaRussa, Mike Lindskog, the Voice of the Cardinals, interviews Matt Gifford and Rob Rains, author of “Tony LaRussa: Man on a Mission”
Children’s writer Jody Feldman, author of “The Gollywhopper Games”
2-3 p.m.
Inspirational writer and speaker Jennifer Rothschild, author of “Self Talk, Soul Talk”
Book Collecting with Dr. William H. Cooper
Writing To Get Paid versus Writing For Money, by humorist, novelist and nonfiction writer Suzann Ledbetter Ellingsworth, author of “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie”
3-4 p.m.
Arts and cultural writer Sally Tippett Rains, author of “The Making of a Classic, Margaret Mitchell and Gone With The Wind”
So, You Want to be an Author … by writer and editor Reta Spears-Stewart
Children’s writer June Rae Wood, author of “The Man Who Loved Clowns”
The Missouri Literary Festival, a Celebration of Arts, Literature and Literacy, is a nonprofit event focused on raising funds to benefit Springfield Regional Arts Council, Ozarks Literacy Council, Family Literacy Centers of Springfield, the R-12 Title I Schools and the Writers Hall of Fame scholarship program.
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