Massachusetts Chronicle

Los Angeles, CA – The BookFest, presented by the Greater Los Angeles Society and Books That Make You, announces the schedule for its 3^rd biannual virtual event. Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords; prolific New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry; Patrick M. Oliver founder of Say it Loud!; and skeptic, author and thinker, Michael Shermer, are doing conversations during the two-day online event. These intimate one-on-one talks give attendees the opportunity to learn more about each individual, and to take a deep dive into the topics discussed.

Delivering the opening keynote for The BookFest Spring 2021 is author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The Art of Hybrid Timber Framing, Bert Sarkkinen. As the founder of Arrow Timber, Sarkkinen takes attendees on a journey to find long-term happiness.

Plus, panel discussions include an array of writers, literary professionals and experts discussing the books we read, relevant topics of our times, the art and craft of writing, and more. Speakers include Elaine Ash; Dr. Janet Bond Brill, Nancy J. Hite, Steven Joseph; Kathleen Kaiser; Dr. Raye Mitchell, Deborah M. Pratt, James Rollins; Scott Ryan; Katharine Sands, Edgar Scott, and many more.

Free to attend, The BookFest delivers vital conversations, entertainment and educational programming for the reading and writing community.

The Saturday, April 17, 2021 live stream programming is dedicated to readers. Listed in Pacific Time, the programming includes:

10:30am – Welcome Message

10:15am – Opening Keynote by Bert Sarkkinen: From the Timber in Our Trees to the Paper in Our Books, Let’s Find Long-Term Happiness

11:00am – A Conversation with Michael Shermer: Being a Skeptic Today

Noon – Books that Force You to See the World Differently

1:00pm – Must Love Books and Television: The Connection Between Television, Writers and Pop Culture

2:00pm – Mental Health and Physical Wellness Books for the Extended Pandemic

3:00pm – A Conversation with Patrick M. Oliver: Creating the Next Generation of Readers, Writers and Leaders

4:00pm to 6:00pm – Live Author Chats Hosted by Jenna Busch and Anastasia Washington

The Sunday, April 18, 2021 programming is geared toward writers. Listed in Pacific Time, the programming includes:

9:00am – A Conversation with Jonathan Maberry: Being a Prolific Writer

10:00am – How to Work Successfully with a Freelance Editor

11:00am – Sharing Your Story: The Secret Ingredient in Your Memoir Is You

Noon – PR Pro Tips for Powerful Book Promotions

1:00pm – The Science of Storytelling: How to Use Science, Structure and Sizzle to Create a Bestselling Novel or Non-Fiction Book

2:00pm – Goodreads 101: What Every Writer Needs to Know

3:00pm – A Conversation with Mark Coker from Smashwords

4:00pm to 6:00pm – Ask the Industry Experts Anything: A Live Q&A for Writers of Every Level

Plus, throughout The BookFest, there will be special segments to enjoy between panels, including:

• Little Lion presents health, wellness, and mini creative activity sessions for attendees to watch and participate in.

• Todd Debreceni, author of Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen, does special effects makeup to create a famous literary character, to be revealed at The BookFest.

Among the numerous authors, literary professionals and experts participating in The BookFest Spring 2021 are: Dayna Anderson; Elaine Ash;  T.L. Bequette; Deanna Brady; Dr. Janet Bond Brill; A.G. Billig; Patrice Shavone Brown; Jenna Busch; Tony Catanzaro; Mark Coker; Todd Debreceni; Cristina Deptula; Celeste Duckworth; Desireé Duffy; Brad Dukes; Debra Eckerling; Monica Faulkner, Ph.D.;  George Galdorisi; Diana Giovinazzo; Nancy J. Hite; Christina Hoag; Bridgitte Jackson-Buckley; Gerald Everett Jones; Steven Joseph; Kathleen Kaiser; Deborah Zara Kobylt; Sharon Koifman; Jackie Lapin; Jonathan Maberry; Kristie Anne Mah; KJ Matthews; Alicia McBride; Bill McCormick; Doug McIntyre; Ray Mitchell, Esq.; Ora Nadrich; Nic Nelson; Amber Nichole; Patrick M. Oliver; Dr. Stephanie Helms Pickett; Herbie J Pilato; Deborah M. Pratt; W. Craig Reed; Rhonda Rees; Julian Reeve; James Rollins; Scott Ryan; Bert Sarkkinen; Arlene Schindler; Edgar Scott;  Flo Selfman; Karen Sloan-Brown; Robin Quinn; Katharine Sands; Penny Sansevieri; Dr. Michael Shermer; Sue William Silverman; Carole Stivers; Jeff Sweat; Anastasia Washington; David Wogahn and more.

People are encouraged to register for email updates on the website to stay informed, and to receive exclusive offers like The BookFest Virtual Gift Bag. It will be emailed after The BookFest to all who subscribed to the email list, and will include digital downloads and offers presented by many of The BookFest partners.

The BookFest is presented by The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society, an organization for writers in Southern California and beyond, and by Books That Make You, a bookish brand for bibliophiles. Other partners and supporters include: Authors, Large and Small; Black Château Enterprises; Book Publicists of Southern California; Books That Make You; Boss Girl Raye; C. S. Lewis Publicity; D.E.B. Method; Get Published Radio; Little Lion; Horror Writers Association in Los Angeles; Independent Writers of Southern California; Just Us Books; MyStar95.com; Napox Photography; OwlCrate; RISE Brewing Company; Smashwords; The Skeptics Society; TVGuestpert Publishing; WannaBe Press; the Women’s National Book Association in Los Angeles; Vertikal Life Magazine and WPN (Writers & Publishers Network, formerly SPAWN).

A fan-favorite, the Big Bundle of Books Giveaway, presented by Books That Make You, returns with a picnic basket theme. Owlcrate also offers a prize. Other bookish goodies are also up for grabs.

Attendees can browse “Virtual Booths”, as well, which are pages for BookFest partners. There is also a “Books Page” showcasing books from participants. The BookFest organizers encourage booklovers to browse books and support the authors and partners who help bring this free-to-attend event to attendees around the globe.

The event’s hub will be the website, TheBookFest.com, and visitors can find the live stream linked there on the day of the event. In addition, The BookFest will stream through the Books That Make You Channel on YouTube and the Facebook Event Page. Hashtags #TheBookFest and #TheBookFestSpring2021 are also being used, and social media for Black Château and Books That Make You will help spread the word.

ABOUT THE BOOKFEST

The BookFest is the leader in virtual literary events and produces vital conversations on the world’s stage for those who love to read, and those who love to write. It launched May 2020 and quickly became the leader in online book festivals. Free to attend, the biannual event happens in the spring and fall, and streams panel discussions, conversations, and festivities for readers and writers. As an award-winner, The BookFest has recognitions from the w3 awards and the Muse Creative Awards. The BookFest is describes itself as “an online bookish adventure”. It features an array of literary speakers, experts, and authors, which has included: Mitch Albom; Kevin J. Anderson; Robert G. Diforio; Cheryl Willis Hudson; Wade Hudson; Sarah Kendzior; Jonathan Maberry; Lisa Morton; James Rollins; Connie Schultz; Danny Trejo and many others. The BookFest® is presented by Black Château and Books That Make You and is a registered trademark of Desireé Duffy, who is the founder of all three.

For more information, visit www.TheBookFest.com.

Media Contact
Company Name: Black Chateau Enterprises
Contact Person: Desiree Duffy
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://www.thebookfest.com/press-room/