This Saturday, you’ll have the chance to meet contemporary writers and a handful of the world’s top illustrators at this year’s Books by the Banks festival in Cincinnati Ohio. (October 22, 2011 from 10am to 4pm) The festival features writers from various genres, all gathered near the scenic Ohio River which separates Ohio and Kentucky. There are many authors planning to attend this year’s event. Below are a few highlights.
Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane
Author of numerous New York Times Bestsellers including Gone, Baby, Gone and The Given Day, Dennis Lehane’s psychological thrillers are known worldwide. Several of his novels have been made into Hollywood films, including Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Academy Award Winner, Mystic River. In addition to writing award winning novels, Lehane has also written several screenplays for the HBO series The Wire.
Dee Garretson
Dee Garretson
Dee Garretson is rising quickly in the realm of teen-fiction writing. Wildfire Run is the novel Garretson is most widely recognized for having written. In this youthful thriller, the president’s son and his friends find themselves running from earthquakes, a massive wildfire, and a safety protocol that is anything but safe. Her newest novel, Wolf Storm, was just released this September.
Chris Bohjalian
Chris Bohjalian
With fourteen novels under his belt, Chris Bohjalian has written several New York Times Bestsellers including Midwives, Secrets of Eden, and Skeletons at the Feast. His works are known for focusing on specific social issues such as homelessness and environmentalism, involving unexpected heroes. In addition to appearing at events like Books by the Banks, Bohjalian is often the subject of newspaper reviews and radio interviews (check out his appearance on the Dianne Rehm show!)
Sara Bennett Wealer
Sara Bennett Wealer
Hailing from Manhattan, Kansas (playfully known as “The Little Apple”), Sara Bennett Wealer is best known for her teen-centered romance novel, Rival. In a book that covers the tribulations of envy, Wealer’s writing speaks directly to the high school experience. In her own words, “When you’re in high school you’re dealing with a lot of things for the first time. You’re going to screw up, you’re going to have massive highs and really low lows…I’m fascinated by how young people navigate all of that.”
There are many more authors who will be in attendance. Books by the Banks Festival takes place from 10am-4pm. Other activities include a panel discussion on developing children’s books, meet and greats with local authors, downtown Cincinnati fun and much more. To learn more about the festival, and to receive updates on specific event times, visit booksbythebanks.org.
