Festival of Books to Hit UA Campus in Spring 2009

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Festival of Books to Hit UA Campus in Spring 2009

Several Tucson organizations have come together to launch the Tucson Festival of Books, coming to campus next year.

By University Communications
March 14, 2008

A coalition of community groups has announced a one-year countdown to the first-ever Tucson Festival of Books, a regionwide public celebration of reading and literacy.

The free book festival, sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star in association with The University of Arizona, will be held on campus March 13-16, 2009. The UA BookStore will serve as the central hub for activities that will include 15 stage areas and visits by an estimated 300 authors and 200 exhibitors.

Festival highlights include:

Lectures, interviews and book signings with local, regional and nationally known authors.
Workshops for aspiring authors.
Poetry readings.
Writing contests, including readings by the winner of the Arizona Daily Star’s International Short Story Contest.
Book reviews and panel discussions.
Children’s author appearances, interactive stage presentations, a children’s area, storytelling and arts and crafts activities.
Book sales.

The Tucson Festival of Books promotes a regionwide public celebration of reading and literacy, supported by the UA, the business community, reading and literacy groups and tourism/economic development organizations.

Net proceeds from event sponsorships, an evening gala and private receptions will benefit local literacy groups and programs in the Tucson region. Exhibitors will include booksellers, publishers and literacy and cultural organizations.

The Tucson book festival is being modeled after successful book festivals such as the LA Times Festival of Books, which draws thousands of book enthusiasts and authors from across the country. Twenty-five nationally recognized authors are already committed to participate.

Visit www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org for the most current list of participants and activities.

“The response from authors, literary organizations, volunteers and book lovers has been incredible. This book festival will be a marquee event for our entire community,” said Bill Viner, chief executive officer of Pepper Viner Homes and co-chairman of the Tucson Festival of Books steering committee.

“We are thrilled to be among the lead organizers largely because reading is central to our mission," said John M. Humenik, editor and publisher of the Arizona Daily Star. "It’s a logical fit for our newspaper, which celebrates daily the craft of communicating with words and images. The energy that’s generated from getting authors, books and the people who love them together is impressive. Put it all against the backdrop of a fun family experience and we believe the festival can become a Tucson tradition."