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GBF News                                                                      January 2013

In This Issue...

Luminaries of Literature Join 2013 Featured Authors

Short Story Contest Entries Due Friday, February 15

GBF Named Official Event of Children's Book Week

Teens Encouraged to Vote for Favorite Books of 2012

Writopia Lab to Lead Workshops for Children, Young Adults

Don't Keep Us a Secret: Share the GBF News with Friends and Family

Sponsor a D.C. Literary Gem

GBF Now Recruiting Volunteers

Thanks to Our Newest Sponsors

Partners & Sponsors

Socialize With Us

Luminaries of Literature

Join 2013 Featured Authors

The author confirmations have been coming in fast and furious as our submission deadline approaches.  Some of the newest additions to our featured author list include:

 

~ Children's & Young Adult ~

Walter Dean Myers is the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and a beloved children’s author. His award-winning body of work includes “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” “Fallen Angels,” “Monster,” “Somewhere in the Darkness,” “Harlem” and “Scorpions.” His latest book is “Darius & Twig.” Walter is the winner of two Newbery Honor awards and five Coretta Scott King awards. He was the first recipient of both the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature from the American Library Association and Kent State University’s Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2008, Walter won the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Award and in 2010, he received the Rutgers University Award for Literature for Young Adults from the New Jersey Center for the Book and the Rutgers School of Communications. He is considered one of the preeminent writers for young people, having written more than 100 books.

 

Adele Griffin is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the author of a number of middle grade and young adult novels, including her latest, “All You Never Wanted.” Her works include “The Julian Game,” “Tighter,”  “Picture the Dead” and coming this Fall, “Loud Awake & Lost.” She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her husband and two children.

 

~ Non-Fiction ~

Scott W. Berg’s latest book is “38 Nooses: Lincoln, Little Crow, and the Beginning of the Frontier’s End.” He also is the author of “Grand Avenues: The Story of Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the French Visionary Who Designed Washington, D.C.” and a regular contributor to The Washington Post. Scott was born and raised in the Twin Cities, earned a B.A. in architecture from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. from Miami University of Ohio, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from George Mason University, where he now teaches writing and literature.

 

Amber Dusick’s book, “Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures,” grew out of a blog of the same name that she started because she was going crazy and needed a place to vent. She must have struck a nerve because her blog illustrating the day-to-day things that happen as a parent received more than 500,000 views and hundreds of comments within days. Dusick's blog was named Funniest Mom Blog 2011 by Parents Magazine and the Best Parenting weblog in the 2012 Bloggie Awards. A featured columnist on The Huffington Post, Amber is constantly in touch with readers, fans and other parents throughout the blogosphere. She is a mom with two boys, a husband and two black cats.

 

Lynne Olson has written six books of history, including the national best-seller “Citizens of London.” Her latest book, “Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and America’s Fight for World War II, 1939-1941,” tells the story of the no-holds-barred debate that raged in America over what its role should be in the Second World War. Before Lynne began writing books full time, she worked for more than 10 years as a journalist, including stints as Moscow correspondent for the Associated Press and White House correspondent for The Baltimore Sun. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband.

 

Garrett Peck is a literary journalist, local Washington-area historian, and author of four books – “The Prohibition Hangover: Alcohol in America from Demon Rum to Cult Cabernet,” “Prohibition in Washington, D.C.: How Dry We Weren’t, “The Potomac River: A History and Guide” and its sequel, his latest book, “The Smithsonian Castle and The Seneca Quarry. Garrett leads tours of Seneca Quarry and the Temperance Tour of Prohibition-related sites in the nation’s capital. This will be Garrett’s third time presenting at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, including the inaugural year in 2010. A native Californian and VMI graduate, he lives in Arlington, Va.

 

Shelby Smoak’s book, “Bleeder: A Memoir,” narrates his college struggles as a severe hemophilic who contracted HIV via a blood transfusion. His poetry, fiction and non-fiction essays have appeared in journals and magazines such as Northern Virginia Review, Cucalorus, Juice, The Crutch, New Thought Journal, Cities and Roads and Coastal Plains Poetry. He was awarded a Pen/American grant for writers living with HIV. He lives with his wife and teaches writing in Northern Virginia.

 

~ Mystery ~

Phillip Margolin, author of ”Sleight of Hand,” has written 16 New York Times best-sellers, including “Capitol Murder” and “Supreme Justice.” Each of his books displays a unique, compelling insider’s view of criminal behavior, which comes from his long background as a criminal defense attorney who handled 30 murder cases. With “Vanishing Acts,” he teamed up with his daughter, Ami Margolin Rome, to write a gripping tween mystery. Winner of the Distinguished Northwest Writer Award and the Spotted Owl Award for “Executive Privilege,” Phillip lives in Portland, Ore.

 

Brad Parks returns to the Festival for a third time to promote his latest book, “The Good Cop,” which debuts in March and continues the saga of the sometimes-dashing investigative reporter Carter Ross. Brad won both the Shamus Award and Nero Award for his first book, “Faces of the Gone.” His third book, “The Girl Next Door,” was named to the Kirkus Reviews’ Best Fiction of 2012 list. Brad is a graduate of Dartmouth College and spent a dozen years as a reporter for The Washington Post and The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger. He is now a full-time novelist who lives in Virginia with his wife and two small children.

 

~ Fiction ~

Manil Suri is the author of “The Death of Vishnu,” which was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, and “The Age of Shiva.” His latest novel is “The City of Devi.” Manil is a native of Mumbai and a professor of mathematics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

 

Abigail Tarttelin grew up in North East England and will be at the Festival to promote her second novel, “Golden Boy.” She began training as an actress at 16 years old at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and the New York Film Academy. She has been profiled as “One To Watch,” and published her debut novel, “Flick,” in the United Kingdom in 2011.

Short Story Contest Entries

Due Friday, February 15

The deadline for the third annual Gaithersburg Book Festival short story writing contest is quickly approaching. Entries are due Friday, February 15.

 

To participate, individuals must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a public or private school, or in a homeschool program, for the 2012-13 school year, and reside in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia. Stories must be no longer than 1,000 words and start with one of the following three lines, which were provided by New York Times best-selling writer Caroline Leavitt, author of “Pictures of You,” “Girls in Trouble” and “Is it Tomorrow,” which will be released in May 2013:

  • The first time he saw her, she was homeless, sitting in Union Station eating crackers from a paper bag...
  • I was 16 the year my brother vanished...
  • Every summer, whether he or she wanted to or not, one person was chosen to go to the moon...

Stories must be submitted as a Word document to writingcontest@gaithersburgbookfestival.org by midnight ET on Friday, February 15, 2013.

 

Complete rules and regulations for the contest, as well as prizes, can be found on the GBF website.

GBF Named Official Event of Children's Book Week

The GBF has been named an official event of Children's Book Week, which is taking place May 13-19. Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Every year, author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events are held at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums and homes from coast to coast! Children's Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader, a non-profit literacy foundation, and sponsored by the Children's Book Council.

 

As part of Children’s Book Week, the Festival is pleased to welcome author Walter Dean Myers as one of the featured authors in the Children’s Village. Myers is the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and a beloved, award-winning children’s author. He has written more than 100 books, including “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” “Fallen Angels,” “Monster,” “Somewhere in the Darkness,” “Harlem,” “Scorpions” and his latest book is “Darius & Twig.”

Teens Encouraged to Vote for Favorite Books of 2012

In association with the Children’s Book Council (CBC) and Every Child a Reader (ECAR), Teenreads.com is giving teens around the country a chance to talk about their favorite books of 2012. The five titles that receive the most votes will serve as the finalists for the CBC’s 2013 Teen Choice Book of the Year. Once the five finalists have been determined, we will tell you where you can go vote for them. The winner will be announced in May 2013.

 

Teens can select their top books through February 13. For more information or to vote, visit the Teenreads.com website.

Writopia Lab to Lead Workshops for Children, Young Adults

Writopia Lab joins us again in 2013 to lead free workshops at the Festival for children and young adults. Planned workshops include:

  • Kids Group Storytelling (ages 6+)
  • Flash Fiction (ages 10+)
  • Scholastic Writing Awards (ages 12+)
  • College Essay (teens)
  • Dramatic Monologues (ages 8+)
  • 10-Minute Plays (ages 8+)
  • Poetry (ages 12+) and/or Memoir (ages 10+)

More details about the workshops will be available on the GBF website in the coming weeks.

 

Writopia is a non-profit that offers creative writing workshops for kids ages 8-18 in Rockville, Md.; Falls Church, Va.; and at District of Columbia locations in Tenleytown and on Capitol Hill. Each of Writopia’s workshops enroll a maximum of six participants and they are led by a published author or produced playwright. The organization hosts weekly workshops after school and on the weekends throughout the school year, as well as week-long workshops during school breaks and during the summer.

Don't Keep Us a Secret: Share the GBF News with Friends and Family

Share the GBF News with your friends, family and especially book club members so they can stay up-to-date with what we're planning for 2013... and beyond.

 

Simply click the "Send to a Friend" button at the top of the newsletter to pass along this issue.

 

To become a regular GBF News subscriber, visit the festival website and click "Join Our Mailing List." Subscriber contact information will be used solely for the newsletter and will not be shared or sold to other parties.

Save the Date

 

4th Annual Gaithersburg Book

Festival

____

 

Saturday

May 18, 2013

____

 

On the Grounds of

City Hall in

Olde Towne Gaithersburg, Md.

 

Sponsor a D.C. Literary Gem

Looking to reach some of the region's most educated individuals? Would you like to show your support for community and the arts?

 

Called "one of the region’s top literary get-togethers" by Washingtonian magazine in its 2012 Hidden Gems feature, the Gaithersburg Book Festival attracted 17,000 attendees and more than 100 authors in 2012. This world-class event, which draws praise from participating authors every year, is only possible thanks to the generosity of corporate partners, foundations and individual donors. You could be one of those sponsors!

 

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities, visit the GBF website.

GBF Now Recruiting Volunteers

Do you enjoy spending time with authors? Read any great new books? Well, if you answered yes to either of these questions, we have the event for you! Consider volunteering at the Festival on Friday, May 17, or Saturday, May 18.

 

As a volunteer, youll be able to play an important role in the success of the fourth annual GBF, and have a unique chance to meet and interact with some of today’s top authors. High school students ages 16+ also have the opportunity to earn SSL hours. 

 

If you are interested in volunteering to set up the day before or assist the day of the festival, please visit the GBF website for more information or to sign up

Thanks to Our Newest Sponsors

The GBF would like to thank those sponsors who already have committed to supporting the 2013 Gaithersburg Book Festival:

 

Premier Sponsors ~ 

Montgomery Community Media

Web Mobile Image, LLC

 

 

Festival Sponsor ~

Washington Parent

 

 

Pavilion Sponsor ~

BP Realty Investments, LLC

 

Literary Sponsor ~

Asbury Methodist Village

 

Partners & Sponsors

  ~Partners ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Premier ~

 

 

~ Festival ~

 

 

 

Socialize

With Us

Want to be one of the first to know about the latest news from the Gaithersburg Book Festival and our featured authors?

 

If so, visit the Gaithersburg Book Festival blog or follow us in the social media universe on Twitter and Facebook.

Questions?

 

We have answers.  Click here to contact us.

 

Gaithersburg Book Festival • 506 S. Frederick Avenue • Gaithersburg, MD 20877
http://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org
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