Calendar of Literary Festivals in North Carolina

February
Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair

With the goal of increasing literacy in Robeson County, this festival assembles 75 authors for panel discussions, presentations and networking at Robeson Community College. http://www.bookemnc.org

March
Spring Literary Festival
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee

Growing out of the WCU Visiting Writers Series, the WCU Spring Literary Festival is a regional literary gathering with a multicultural and international focus. http://www.litfestival.org

April

North Carolina Literary Festival

Founded in 1988, the biennial North Carolina Literary Festival is one of the largest in the state. It is hosted on a rotating basis by the libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, N.C. State University and N.C. Central University. It will next take place at the J.C. Hunt Library on N.C. State’s Centennial Campus. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/literaryfestival

Sensoria, a Celebration of the Arts

Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte’s week-long Spring Literary Festival, originating in 1993, has grown to include music, history and visual arts while retaining workshops, presentations and a keynote address from North Carolina authors. http://sensoria.cpcc.edu

North Carolina Writers’ Network Spring Conference
UNC Greensboro

A full day of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, marketing and publishing workshops offered by the N.C. Writers’ Network, the only statewide organization serving N. C. writers. The day includes a keynote address, faculty readings, onsite “lunch with an author,” publisher exhibits and an open mike for conference participants. http://www.ncwriters.org

May
Blue Ridge Bookfest

Blue Ridge Community College, Flat RockThe Blue Ridge Bookfest engages members of the public with North Carolina authors of poetry, fantasy, history, biography, memoir, African American and Cherokee fiction and nonfiction through workshops and exhibits. http://www.blueridgebookfest.org

August

High Country Festival of the Book

Sponsored by Friends of the Watauga County Public Library, this two-day festival includes author panels and readings, exhibitors, and a fundraising dinner. http://www.highcountryfestivalofthebook.com

September
Carolina Mountains Literary Festival
Burnsville

The Carolina Mountains Literary Festival brings together authors, readers of all ages, novice writers, listeners and learners in small, intimate settings throughout the town of Burnsville. It focuses on regional writers and works from smaller presses. http://www.cmlitfest.org

Eastern North Carolina Literary Homecoming
Greenville

The Eastern North Carolina Literary Homecoming celebrates the literary culture of N.C., including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama and music. The festival was originally restricted to artists with connections to eastern N.C., but has expanded to include writers throughout the state who reflect a changing theme highlighted in a special section of the N.C. Literary Review, for example, the impact of environmental literature on social change. http://www.ecu.edu/lithomecoming

BOOKMARKS Festival of Books
Winston-Salem

The BOOKMARKS Festival brings authors of national, regional and local renown as well as emerging authors to the Downtown Arts District of Winston-Salem in a street festival format that includes a mixture of enclosed tents plus indoor space in galleries and businesses. It features author readings, presentations, panel discussions, Q & A sessions, illustrator demonstrations, cookbook chef demonstrations, writing and publishing workshops and book signings. http://www.bookmarksbookfestival.org

On the Same Page Literary Festival
West Jefferson

Sponsored by the Ashe County Arts Council and Ashe County Public Library, On the Same Page presents authors with North Carolina connections whose works include fiction, nonfiction, poetry and mystery. The festival includes creative writing workshops, readings, discussions and “an hour with an author” at local eating establishments. http://www.onthesamepagefestival.com

North Carolina Literary Festival (next scheduled in 2013)

Founded in 1988, the biennial North Carolina Literary Festival is one of the largest in the state. It is hosted on a rotating basis by the libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and NC State University (which will serve as the festival’s next home in 2013). N.C. Central University also participates as a sponsor at each festival. http://www.ncliteraryfestival.org

November
North Carolina Writers’ Network Fall Conference

The N.C. Writers’ Network’s biggest conference of the year spans a weekend and features multiple workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, marketing and publishing; lunch and dinner banquets with readings; keynote speakers; open mike sessions for participants; and the opportunity for one-on-one manuscript critiques with New York editors or agents. The host city rotates annually among Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh or Durham, and Wilmington. http://www.ncwriters.org