The Orlando Book Festival returns to Orlando Public Library with keynote from best selling author Tayari Jones

Enjoy a day-long celebration of book with panels and talks from authors from all over the state and a keynote from New York Times bestselling author Tayari Jones.

Join Orange County Library System for the return of its annual Orlando Book Festival at the Orlando Public Library in downtown Orlando for a day-long celebration of books.

This year's Orlando Book Festival will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 1 am - 6 pm, and will feature panels and talks from authors from all over the state and a keynote from New York Times best selling author Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage.

Highlights of this year's Orlando Book Festival include:

10:30 am

• Romancing the Book with Kim Karalius, Nina Crespo, Elle E. Ire. Romance is the best-selling literary genre in the world. Come chat with the authors that make readers swoon.

• Publishing Tell-All with Raquel Reichard, Thomas B. Cavanagh, David Pedreira. Authors share their behind-the-scenes knowledge and experience. Ask anything you want to know about the publishing process and industry.

11:30 am

• Let’s Talk About Florida with Rebecca Renner, Tyler Gillespie, Annabelle Tometich. From exotic reptiles to Florida Man, what a weird, wacky state we live in. These authors will discuss their experiences writing about the Sunshine State.

• The Joys and Difficulties of Writing for Children with Amar Shah, José Pablo Iriarte, Taryn Souders. Learn how to write stories that will captivate young readers from three authors who write for children. 12:30 pm

• Drawn to Life with Peter Raymundo, Jerry Craft, Michael Regina. Three author-illustrators will discuss their processes, careers, and what draws them to creating for kids.

• Fact or Fiction: Researching History with Ana Veciana-Suarez, Vanessa Montalban, Luis Martinez-Fernandez. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, learn how these writers research history to write their books.

2:00 pm

• Keynote with New York Times best-selling author Tayari Jones is the author of four novels, most recently An American Marriage. Published in 2018, An American Marriage is an Oprah’s Book Club Selection and appeared on Barack Obama’s summer reading list and his year-end roundup. The novel was awarded the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Aspen Words Prize and an NAACP Image Award. It has been published in two dozen countries.
  

3:00 pm

• Book sales and signing with all authors

• Tayari Jones will be signing until 3:45 p.m.

Participating literary organizations include:

• Society of Childrens Book Writers & Illustrators - Florida Chapter

• Timucua Arts & Authentic Selves Poetry

• The Jack Kerouac Project of Orlando

• Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts

• Orlando Area Poets

• Orlando Area Science Fiction Society

OCLS advise that you register for all in-person events due to limited capacity at the festival.

If you have any questions please call OCLS: 407.835.7323

Register to attend the keynote and receive email updates.

Gotta Go Orlando is committed to offering locals and visitors the best coverage of things to do in Orlando, and Central Florida, including the latest entertainment news, live music, theater, nightlife, food & drink. theme parks, attractions, events, culture, and more.

For the latest entertainment news and things to do in Orlando, and throughout Central Florida, join us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Never miss any Orlando news! Sign up to the Gotta Go Orlando Newsletter.

Got a story to tell? Contact us here. To advertise with us, click here, and to list your upcoming event with us, submit it here.