By Clark Leonard / UNG Reports ------------- The Dahlonega Literary Festival, the University of North Georgia Department of English and the UNG Press will host the inaugural North Georgia Regional Book Fair on Sept. 14 in the Convocation Center at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.
The event will feature more than 50 regional writers. Authors of all genres—from romance to mystery, fantasy to young adult—will have their works for sale and will hold panels, presentations and workshops. The event also includes door prizes, a silent auction, a student art sale, and concessions.
A group of UNG students from faculty members Lyn Froehlich and Haley Hodges' English 1102 classes from spring 2024 will have a sponsor table to display children's books created by the students as part of their courses. Hailey Walter, a sophomore from Cumming, pursuing a degree in English with a writing and publication concentration, is eager to share her work at the fair.
"It is a dream come true to have such a professional product at the end of the class," Walter said. "I look forward to discussing both the process of creating the book and my future plans for it at the book fair."
Participants can also view The Bayeux Tapestry replica, one of only three in the world. This 224-foot tapestry is a replica of the original French tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings in October 1066.
Dr. Laura Getty, UNG professor of English serves as chair of regional writers for the Dahlonega Literary Festival.
"When we first opened up registration, we were inundated with author requests to participate. These writers are enthusiastic about connecting with their local communities, and we know that their readers, and potential readers, will relish this opportunity to engage," said Getty. "There will be a huge range of authors and genres at the book fair, making it easier for everyone to find something they like."
Some of the exciting panel and presentation titles include "The Wild, Wild West World of Writing," "Christian Fantasy and Fiction," "All Things Mystery," "Publishing Options: Self, Indie, & Traditional," and "What's YA Got to Do with It."
Author Allison Wells, along with Cassidy K. O'Connor and Sophie Leigh Fox, will lead the "Romance Writers Interactive Session: What's my line?" at the fair.
"The North Georgia Regional Book Fair promises to be an incredible gathering of both readers and writers," Wells said. "Meeting and connecting with people is one of the best parts of any event, and I know this one will be all that I expect and more."
Author Safari Spell will be part of the "From the Imagination to the Page: Building Fantasy Worlds Readers Want to Visit IRL" panel that includes fellow authors Christy Healy and Meg M. Robinson.
"As an indie author, I'm so honored to be a part of this inaugural event," Spell said. "Even though we readers and writers are known for getting lost inside books, I'm excited to find fellow bibliophiles and discuss the very real magic of fantasy."
There will also be three free workshops with pre-registration available online at the website listed below. The event has something for everyone—readers, writers, art enthusiasts, and the curious.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To see the full schedule, visit www.literaryfestival.org/bookfairschedule.
