Still Counting...More Featured Authors Added to Impressive List
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The Gaithersburg Book Festival continues to add more award-winning and best-selling authors to the line-up for Saturday, May 19.
~ Non-Fiction ~
 E.J. Dionne Jr. is a syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and professor at Georgetown University. E.J. provides political analysis for MSNBC, NPR’s "All Things Considered" and ABC News’ "This Week." He is the author of seven books and has edited or co-edited six other volumes. His most recent book is "One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported," co-authored with Norman J. Ornstein and Thomas E. Mann. Other works include "Why the Right Went Wrong" and "Why Americans Hate Politics."
 Michael Kupperman’s comic drawings and strips have appeared in dozens of publications and websites, including The New Yorker, Fortune, The New York Times, Nickelodeon Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company, Esquire, Heavy Metal, Vice and McSweeney’s; comic books for DC, Marvel and others; and have been collected in multiple books, including five of his own. They’ve also been animated for Saturday Night Live, Adult Swim and Comedy Central. Conan O’Brian described him as “probably one of the greatest comedy brains on the planet." "All The Answers" is his first serious book. Michael lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, Muire, and son, Ulysses.
 Ken Miller is an associate professor of History at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., where he teaches courses on early America. He is the author of “Dangerous Guests: Enemy Captives and Revolutionary Communities During the War for Independence,” which won the “Journal of the American Revolution” Book of the Year Award. He has appeared on C-SPAN3’s American History TV and the acclaimed history podcast, "Ben Franklin’s World," and has held fellowships from such notable institutions as the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the American Antiquarian Society, the Library Company of Philadelphia and the David Library of the American Revolution.
 Patrick K. O’Donnell, author of "The Unknowns: The Untold Story of America’s Unknown Soldier and WWI’s Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home," is a best-selling, critically acclaimed military historian and an expert on elite units. He is the author of 11 books, including "Washington’s Immortals," "We Were One" and "Dog Company," and he is the recipient of several national awards. He served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and speaks often on espionage, special operations and counterinsurgency. He has provided historical consulting for DreamWorks’ award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, Fox News and Discovery.
 Julian Voloj is an award-winning author who specializes in non-fiction graphic novels and literary adaptations. His graphic novel “Ghetto Brother” was named Booklist’s ‘Best Non-fiction Book of 2015’ and praised by Junot Diaz in The New York Times as "superb" and "a gem." His new book, “The Joe Shuster Story,” focuses on the life and struggles of the Superman co-creator. He lives with his wife Lisa and sons Leon and Simon in the New York City borough of Queens, not far from Joe Shuster's 1970s residence.
 Robert P. Watson, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, historian, professor and media commentator who has published 40 books and hundreds of scholarly articles and popular essays and is regularly interviewed by print, radio and television news outlets, including C-SPAN’s Book TV. His recent books include "The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II;" "America’s First Crisis: The War of 1812," winner of the Independent Publishers’ Gold Medal; and "Affairs of State: The Untold History of Presidential Love, Sex, and Scandal."
~ Fiction ~
 Elliot Ackerman, author of the critically acclaimed novel "Green on Blue," is based out of Istanbul, where he has covered the Syrian Civil War since 2013. His latest novel is "Dark at the Crossing." His writings have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic and The New York Times Magazine, among other publications, and his stories have been included in The Best American Short Stories. He is both a former White House Fellow and Marine, and served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart.
 Stoni Alexander writes romance novels about tortured alpha males and independent, strong-willed females. Her passion is creating love stories where the hero and heroine help each other through a crisis so that, in the end, they're equal partners in more ways than love alone. Her most recent book is "The Loving Touch: Book Three of The Touch Series." In a previous life, she appeared in numerous television, film and stage productions before transitioning to a successful career in business. Stoni spent her childhood moving around like a gypsy and appreciates her deep-seated roots in the Washington, D.C., metro area. She's married to the love of her life, is an überproud football mom, and dreams of the day when her muse will inspire her at will.
 Adrienne Benson was raised in Africa, and has called Kenya, Liberia, Zambia and the Ivory Coast home. She’s been a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, lived in Ukraine and Albania, slept in more airports than she can count and is now happily ensconced in Washington, D.C., with her three kids. Her writing has appeared in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, The Washington Post, Brain, Child, The Foreign Service Journal, ADDitude magazine and several anthologies. "The Brightest Sun" is her first novel, and she is currently at work on her second.
 Matthew Betley spent 10 years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experience includes deployments to Djibouti after September 11, and Iraq, prior to the surge. He is author of "Oath of Honor" and "Over Watch." His forthcoming book, "Field of Valor: A Thriller," will be released May 22, 2018. A New Jersey native who considers Cincinnati home, he graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology.
 Denny Bryce writes historical fiction, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a regular contributor to USA Today's Happy Ever After blog with a monthly column on fan fiction, book boyfriends and girlfriends, too, and recaps "Outlander" on STARZ. Denny was a 2016 RWA Golden Heart finalist in historical romance and a 2014 Golden Heart winner in romantic suspense. Denny is member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Washington Romance Writers (WRW-DC), Maryland Romance Writers (MRW), RWA Kiss of Death (KOD) and CIMRWA. She is the 2018-19 PRO Advisor to the RWA Board of Directors.
 Keith Donohue is the author of five novels, most recently "The Motion of Puppets." His work has been translated in two dozen languages. "The Stolen Child" was named as a “Best Book of the Year” by Amazon.com, Borders Original Voices, Library Journal, The Washington Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Kansas City Star, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Locus magazine (U.K.). Keith has taught writing and literature at several colleges and universities. His reviews have appeared in The Washington Post. He lives in Wheaton, Md.
Katherine Heiny is the author of "Standard Deviation" and "Single, Carefree, Mellow," a collection of short stories. Her fiction has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train and many other places. She lives in Bethesda, Md., with her husband and children.
 Orly Konig is an escapee from the corporate world, where she spent roughly 16 years working in the space industry. Now she spends her days chatting up imaginary friends, drinking entirely too much coffee and negotiating writing space around two over-fed cats. She is the founding president of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, and a quarterly contributor to the Writers In The Storm and Thinking Through Our Fingers blogs. Her latest book is "Carousel Beach."
 Tracey Livesay’s latest release is "Love Will Always Remember." She writes smart, sexy and emotional contemporary romances where strong, successful heroines find love with powerful, passionate heroes. She’s been featured in Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post and on CBS This Morning. A former criminal defense attorney, she finds crafting believable happily ever afters slightly more challenging than protecting our constitutional rights, but she's never regretted following her heart instead of her law degree. Tracey lives in Virginia with her husband — who she met on the very first day of law school — and their three children.
 Sally MacKenzie, a USA Today best-selling author and D. C. native, writes funny, sexy romances set in her favorite time period (other than the present): Regency England. Two of her books — "The Naked King" and "Bedding Lord Ned" — made ALA Booklist’s 101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years: 2017 Edition. A former federal regulation writer, recovering parent volunteer, mother of four (and grandma to three), and middle-of-the-pool Masters swimmer, she loves to research historic sites and hike through—and frequently get lost in—the English countryside. "What Ales the Earl," first in her Widow’s Brew series, releases August 2018.
 Kelly Maher is the author of the hot contemporary romance series "Capital Kisses," of which "The Bridesmaid and the Hurricane" is the latest novel. She also is a contributor to the "Rogue" series of anthologies. When she's not writing or playing on social media, she works as a librarian at a federal library in Washington, D.C. She has used her librarian alter ego's skills with matching readers to their next favorite story to write a book for authors on improving their marketing techniques.
 Stephen McCauley is the author of seven novels, the most recent of which is "My Ex-Life." His first novel, "The Object of My Affection," was turned into a movie with a screenplay by Wendy Wasserstein, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. His fiction, reviews and articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper's, Vogue and many other publications. He currently serves as director of Creative Writing at Brandeis University. In his spare time, he practices yoga, the ukulele and ironic detachment.
Aimee Molloy is the author of The New York Times best-seller "However Long the Night: Molly Melching’s Journey to Help Millions of African Women and Girls Triumph" and the co-author of several non-fiction books, including "Jantsen’s Gift," with Pam Cope. "The Perfect Mother" is her first novel.
 Jesse Waters is winner of the River Styx International Poetry Contest, runner-up for the Iowa Review Fiction Prize and Finalist in The Starcherone Prize, the DIAGRAM Innovative Fiction Prize and the Paul Bowles Fiction Award. He is a recipient of a NC Artist’s Grant to attend the Vermont Studio Center, and is currently director of the Bowers Writers House at Elizabethtown College. Jesse's fiction, poetry and non-fiction work has been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes, and has appeared nationally and internationally in such journals as The Adirondack Review, Coal Hill Review, The Cortland Review, Cimarron Review, Iowa Review, River Styx, Slide, Story Quarterly, Southeast Review, Sycamore Review and others. His first collection of poems, "Human Resources," was published by Inkbrush Press in 2011; his first collection of short fiction, "So Let Me Get This Straight," was released by Paycock Press in February 2018.
 Susi Wyss is the author of "The Civilized World," a novel set across Africa that was named a “Book to Pick Up Now” by O, the Oprah Magazine. Her writing, which has twice been recognized by the Maryland State Arts Council, is largely inspired by her 20-year career managing women’s health programs in Africa. A resident of Silver Spring, Md., Susi balances her creative writing with her work at Jhpiego, a Baltimore-based international health organization.
 Jennifer Bort Yacovissi’s debut novel, "Up the Hill to Home," tells the story of four generations of a family in Washington, D.C., from the Civil War to the Great Depression. Jenny is a member of PEN/America and the National Book Critics’ Circle, and writes a monthly column and reviews regularly for the Washington Independent Review of Books. She is serving as chair of the 2017 and 2018 Washington Writers Conference, and is president of the Annapolis chapter of the Maryland Writers’ Association.
~ Poetry ~
 Sarah Arvio’s "Poet in Spain: New Translations from the Works of Federico García Lorca" was recently hailed in The New York Review of Books, which noted her “keen sense of music” and her “sensitive… ear for Lorca’s delicate and difficult tones.” She has published two books of poetry, "Visits from the Seventh" and "Sono: cantos," as well as a hybrid of poetry, essay and memoir titled "night thoughts: 70 dream poems & notes from an analysis." Arvio won the Rome Prize of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Guggenheim and Bogliasco Fellowships, among other honors.
 M. Scott Douglass grew up in Pittsburgh and lives in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife Jill. His poetry has appeared in places such as The Asheville Poetry Review, Gargoyle, Iodine Poetry Journal, Midwest Review, North American Review, San Pedro River Review and Slipstream. His books include, "Auditioning for Heaven," "Balancing on Two Wheels," "Steel Womb Revisited," "Hard to Love" and, most recently, "Just Passing Through" (2017). He is a Pushcart Prize nominee and an N.C. Arts & Science Council grant recipient. His cover designs have won two PICA Awards and several Indie Press nominations.
 Kateema Lee is a Washington, D.C., native. Her recent work has been published in anthologies and print and online journals, such as Beltway Poetry Quarterly, African American Review, Gargoyle, Cave Canem Anthology XIII and others. Kateema is the author of "Almost Invisible," and her next collection of poems, "Musings of a Netflix Binge Viewer," is forthcoming (June 2018). She is a Cave Canem Graduate Fellow, a Callaloo Fellow and a participant of The Home School. Kateema also is an associate professor of English at Montgomery College.
 Kurt Olsson has published two collections of poetry. His most recent, "Burning Down Disneyland" (Gunpowder Press), was selected by Tom Lux as the winner of the 2016 Barry Spacks Poetry Prize. His first collection, "What Kills What Kills Us" (Silverfish Review Press), won the Gerald Cable Book Award. The book was subsequently awarded the Towson University Prize for Literature, given to the best book published the previous year by a Maryland writer, and named Best Poetry Book of 2008 by Peace Corps Writers. Kurt’s poems have appeared in many journals, including Poetry, FIELD, The New Republic and Southern Review.
 Erica Wright is the author of the poetry collections "All the Bayou Stories End with Drowned" and "Instructions for Killing the Jackal." Her poems have appeared in Crazyhorse, Denver Quarterly, Gulf Coast, New Orleans Review and elsewhere. She is the poetry editor at Guernica Magazine, as well as a former editorial board member of Alice James Books. Her novel "The Blue Kingfisher" will be released this fall. Erica has taught creative writing at Marymount Manhattan College and New York University's continuing studies program and currently runs a novel writing group through OneRoom. She grew up in Wartrace, Tenn., and received her B.A. from New York University and her M.F.A. from Columbia University.
~ Mystery ~
 Donna Andrews was born in Yorktown, Va., and now lives in Reston, Va. "Gone Gull" and "How the Finch Stole Christmas" are the 21st and 22nd books in her Agatha, Anthony and Lefty-winning Meg Langslow series, to be followed in 2018 by "Toucan Keep a Secret" and "Lark, the Herald Angels Sing." She currently serves as the executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America and is active in Sisters in Crime. She blogs with the Femmes Fatales.
 Nik Korpon is the author of the Memory Thief series—"The Rebellion’s Last Traitor" and "Queen of the Struggle"—and "The Soul Standard," among others. His stories have bloodied the pages and screens of Thuglit, Needle, Out of the Gutter, Crime Factory, Shotgun Honey, the Booked. anthology, and a bunch more. He lives in Baltimore.
~ Children's ~
 Laura Geringer Bass is the author of more than 20 books for young people, including "A Three Hat Day," illustrated by Arnold Lobel, an ALA Notable Book, and "Sign of the Qin," an ALA Best Book. As publisher of the award-winning Laura Geringer Books, she has collaborated with many celebrated authors and illustrators. Her new middle-grade novel, "The Girl with More Than One Heart," is coming from Abrams this spring. A Mentor at Stony Brook, Southampton in the graduate Fellowship program in Children’s Literature, as well as a Mentor for Girls Write Now, Laura serves on the Advisory Board of First Book, an award-winning organization that has delivered more than 170 million books into the hands of children in need.
 Fred Bowen was a Little Leaguer who loved to read. Now he is the author of 23 action-packed chapter books for kids, including his most recent, "Lucky Enough." He has written the weekly sports column for kids in The Washington Post since April 2000. He has been a guest author at hundreds of schools and conferences, as well as the National Book Festival and The Baseball Hall of Fame. Fred lives in Silver Spring, Md., with his wife Peggy Jackson. Their son, Liam, is the Associate Head Baseball Coach at UMBC and their daughter, Kerry, is a reading teacher in Washington, D.C.
 Paul Noth is a writer and artist whose cartoons appear regularly in The New Yorker and occasionally in other publications, including The Wall Street Journal. He was a regular guest writer for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," for which he created the cartoon "Pale Force," and was an animation consultant for Saturday Night Live. He has also written for CBS's "The Late Late Show" and other television programs. His children's book, "How to Sell Your Family to the Aliens," is forthcoming in April 2018.
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GBF Announces High School
Short Story Contest Finalists
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The Gaithersburg Book Festival announced the names of nine finalists for its eighth annual Short Story Contest for high school students. The first-, second- and third-place winners and the fan favorite will be announced at the Festival on Saturday, May 19, 2018.
The nine finalists, listed in alphabetical order with the school they attend and county in which they reside, are:
- Gaby Brennan, Oakton High School (Fairfax County)
- Lance Colet, Oakton High School (Fairfax County)
- Keira DiGaetano, Richard Montgomery High School (Montgomery County)
- Madeline Hudson, Gaithersburg High School (Montgomery County)
- Nathalie Jabbour, Walter Johnson High School (Montgomery County)
- Doris Jimenez, Southern High School (Anne Arundel County)
- Maria Korzeniewicz, Sandy Spring Friends School (Prince George’s County)
- Natalia Pereira, Walter Johnson High School (Montgomery County)
- Talia Yu, Maret School (Washington, D.C.)
Nisha Sharma, author of “My So-Called Bollywood Life” and a featured teen/young adult author at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, will serve as the 2018 judge, selecting the top three stories.
The nine finalist stories have been posted to the Gaithersburg Book Festival website so visitors can read the stories and vote for their favorite. Fan favorite voting will close on May 7.
Prizes for first-, second- and third-place winners are $250, $100 and $50, respectively. The fan favorite winner will receive $25. Prizes are provided courtesy of the Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County.
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Children's Village to Feature Top Authors, Workshops, Multilingual Story Time and Activities
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Literature will be brought to life for children of all ages at the Gaithersburg Book Festival through story time in multiple languages, writing workshops and a multitude of activities, crafts and games in the Children’s Village, sponsored by Washington Parent and Activity Rocket/Thrively. The Children’s Village also serves as the hub where more than 30 of today’s best and brightest children’s and young adult authors will be featured in interactive presentations, readings and book signings.
The Festival will feature an impressive line-up of award-winning and best-selling children's and teen/young adult authors. Other features of the Children's Village include:
- Multilingual Story Time Tent, where children and families can enjoy listening to stories in a variety of languages - Spanish, Farsi, French, Amharic, and American Sign Language (ASL) - read by students from The Universities at Shady Grove.
- Free writing workshops for children and teens, led by experts from local writing programs. Workshops will focus on drawing dragons and monsters, developing comic characters, making pop-up books, writing snappy prose, journaling for sports fans, learning the secrets to great stories, fantasy writing and identifying the writer within.
- Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg hosts “A Remarkable Reading Adventure” featuring two tents full of interactive reading activities, including a life-sized sight word parking lot where children will line up to ride a tricycle to a parking spot with the sight words called out by the volunteers; beach ball toss with beach words; hula hoop rhyming game; ABC fossil excavation; and backyard Boggle.
- Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital leads creative bookmark making. St. Martin of Tours Catholic School - Face painting and tattoos related to Eric Carle storybooks. Plus from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. visit with a baby kangaroo and bunnies.
- Story Tapestries will help kids find their wiggling, giggling book worm as they write, draw, play instruments, dance, and create stories with professional story teller, Arianna Ross. Arianna will also share stories about Brazil in both English and Portuguese in the Multilingual Story Time Tent.
- The Story House: Bookstore on Wheels will highlight local authors, especially those affiliated with the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C. Visit the bookstore trolley to listen to stories and purchase books by local authors.
- National Federation of the Blind, Sligo Creek Chapter will offer braille games, tactile bookmark-making and looks at books written in braille. NFOB also will share stories in braille in the Multilingual Story Time Tent.
- Montgomery College Early Childhood Education Club will host a Dr. Seuss-themed booth for early readers. Enjoy games, art and stories, and take a selfie with The Cat in the Hat!
- Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt will be hosted by Candlewick Press and feature several large Waldo cutouts that will be scattered throughout the Festival grounds. Scavenger hunters will return their findings for a chance to win a gift basket. There also will be a real-life Waldo making several appearances, popping in and out of venues.
- Winnie the Pooh, Clifford the Big Red Dog and other costumed characters will roam the Children’s Village. Stop and have your picture taken or just give a high five.
- The City of Gaithersburg Educational Enrichment Committee (EEC) and the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program, in partnership with local organizations including Gaithersburg Rotary, Catholic Charities and Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy, will be on hand to spread the word about literacy in Montgomery County. They will have a prize wheel, balloons, literacy resource bags and an opportunity for local elementary schools to win a basket of signed books by authors who are presenting at the Festival.
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Long-lost Reward for Assassin’s ID to be Paid 146 Years Later at GBF
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 A year after releasing her debut true crime book, “Death of an Assassin,” author Ann Marie Ackermann will be joined by special guests at the Gaithersburg Book Festival to present a reward that has remained unpaid for 146 years.
The recipients are the American descendants of a man who solved the assassination of a German mayor in 1835. Two of the descendants, Jennifer Manion and Patricia Beisner, live in Gaithersburg, Md. Descendant Robert Humphreys lives in Clarkston, Ga., and Richard Humphreys lives in Fanwood, NJ. All four will be attending the Festival on May 19, where the current mayor of Bönnigheim, Germany, Kornelius Bamberger will finally bestow the long-lost reward of €1,000 to members of the family of the man who originally solved the case.
Ackermann’s book tracked the never-before-told story of the assassin, Gottlob Rueb, who fled Germany and later died in Mexico defending Robert E. Lee’s position in battle during the Mexican-American War. Frederick Rupp, a German immigrant in Washington, D.C., provided the crucial tip in 1872 that solved the murder, but the reward was never paid after the city council minutes recording the decision to offer the prize were misfiled and archived.
“I believe this is the oldest reward for solving a murder to have ever been paid out – a case, perhaps, for the Guinness Book of World Records,” said Ackermann.
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9th Annual Gaithersburg Book
Festival
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Saturday
May 19, 2018
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On the Grounds of
City Hall in
Olde Towne Gaithersburg, Md.
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Volunteers Needed -
We Want You!
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Interested in spending the day rubbing elbows with today’s literary stars and helping your community? If so, consider volunteering for the 2018 Gaithersburg Book Festival.
A wide array of volunteer opportunities are still available.
Visit our website to learn more.
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Consider a Festival Sponsorship
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A Gaithersburg Book Festival sponsorship is a great way to make your company shine in front of some of the region's best-read and most well-educated individuals, as well as show your support for the community and the arts.
There are a variety of sponsorships to fit every budget, and we can tailor one to specifically meet your needs. Learn more about available sponsorships or download the application today!
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The Gaithersburg Book Festival thanks the organizations that have recently pledged their support of our 9th annual event.
~ Partners ~
NEA Big Read
The Universities at Shady Grove
~ Featured Sponsor ~
C-SPAN Book TV
~ Presenting Sponsor ~
Montgomery College
Spectrum Apartments
~ Literary Sponsors ~
Asbury Methodist Village
Holiday Inn Gaithersburg
Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg
Mercy Health Clinic
Maryland Center for the Book at Maryland Humanities
Mezeh Mediterranean Grill
Siema Wines
The Story House -
Bookstore on Wheels
Story Tapestries with
Arianna Ross
TD Bank
~ Book Lovers ~
Book Crossing, BC in D.C.
Books with a Past
Habit Burger
LeafFilter Gutter Protection
Paul and Candice Stankus
Quinter Design
~ Festival Friends ~
Hess Construction
and Engineering
Wegmans
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~ Partners ~
~ Featured Sponsor ~
~ Festival Sponsors ~
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Stay Informed about #GBF 2018
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