The festival was established in 2001 and held annually until funding concerns at the library in 2013 necessitated a two-year hiatus. The festival returned to the Charleston Civic Center October 23-24, 2015, and featured authors Neil Gaiman, Jodi Picoult, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jeff Shaara.
The two-day event features national, regional, and state authors; publishers; booksellers; and literacy and related organizations. Panel discussions, readings, signings, workshops and children’s activities are regular offerings at the festival.
The West Virginia Book Festival has presented such notable authors as Nicholas Sparks, Lee Child, Rick Bragg, Rita Mae Brown, David Baldacci, Diana Gabaldon, Craig Johnson, Jeanette Walls, Wil Haygood, Jayne Anne Phillips, Jerry West, Jennifer Chiaverini, James Robertson, Jaimy Gordon, and Denise Giardina. The mission of the festival is to “bring books and people together.”
For more information visit the festival website at wvbookfestival.org.
