2023 Festival to Feature Workshops for Adults and Kids of All Ages
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Aspiring writers and poets can learn tricks of the trade, while children of all ages can explore their creativity and hone their writing skills during a full day of free workshops at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, Saturday, May 20.
~ Workshops for Adults (Ages 16+) ~
The Importance of Editing – Michele Chynoweth
10 a.m.
The saying “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” is absolutely true when it comes to a book. Many writers don’t take the time to polish their book before they publish or submit to agents. Enter the editing process and its vital role in publishing. Learn crucial editing tips that will help create the best version of a book, including advice on style, dialogue, description, organization, proofing, formatting and more.
Research and Write Your Memoir – Roni Rosenthal
11 a.m.
Many people want to tell their stories, but wonder if anyone will even care. Plus they may worry it’s too much of an effort or don’t know how to begin. People don’t need to be old or famous to write their story. Everyone has something to say, and wants someone to listen. Writing a memoir will connect writers to their heritage, traditions and family. Memoirs also help writers understand their identity better, and will also help preserve the writer’s life among loved ones for generations. In this workshop, participants will learn how to begin their memoir journey and conduct family research.
Using Setting to Increase Mood & Suspense – Eva Langston
Noon
Scene-setting is often considered long, descriptive and even boring. But setting can be a great way to establish the tone of a story and increase page-turning suspense for readers. Learn tips, read examples and complete exercises, all designed to help dial up the suspense in a story through setting, whether writing a mystery/thriller or any other genre.
How to Publish a Book – Emily Barrosse
1 p.m.
With all of the options available to authors today, it can be overwhelming figuring out the best option for publishing a book. This workshop will focus on the different types of publishing options: traditional, hybrid and self-publishing, and their differences, and how to choose the best publishing option.
Bilingual Creative Writing – Ofelia Montelongo
2 p.m.
Join the bilingual creative writing workshop and learn to write stories in any two languages using code-switching. This type of writing makes our stories unique and reveals the authenticity of our characters.
Retelling Classic Stories in Young Adult Fiction – Kelly Ann Jacobson
3 p.m.
In this workshop, author and University of Lynchburg professor Kelly Ann Jacobson will help participants create their own reimaginings of classic literature stories. After a brief discussion on retellings, Kelly will give prompts, and then participants will have time to write their own works. After allowing time to share, Kelly will lead a Q&A session for questions about being an author.
Writing Love Poems – Kim Roberts
4 p.m.
The oldest known written poem was a love poem. “The Love Song of Shu-Shin” was found in excavations of the city of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia, and probably written in the 20th Century BCE. If love is the original subject, how can there possibly be anything new said about it? In this workshop, participants will look at model poems and discuss how contemporary writers have handled the most tender emotion—and why new love poems continue to be necessary.
~ Workshops for Children ~
Create Your Own Out-of-This-World Graphic Novel – Jonathan Roth and Jarrett Lerner with Dave Roman
11:15 a.m.
In this presentation, authors Jonathan Roth (“Rover and Speck: The Planet that Rocks”) and Jarrett Lerner (“The Hunger Heroes: Snack Cabinet Sabotage”) will share their books and give helpful tips and fun prompts to kids who want to create comics. Participants will review comics and graphic novel styles and brainstorm characters and stories of their own through drawing, writing and role-playing exercises. This session will be moderated by Dave Roman, author of the “Astronaut Academy” graphic novel series.
Let’s Celebrate Animals – Susan Stockdale
12:25 p.m.
Join author/illustrator Susan Stockdale, who will read and demonstrate how she researched, wrote and illustrated her picture book, “Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows.” Afterwards, participants will create their own animal images and compose a title for their artwork.
Sticky Situations – Mika Song and Isabel Roxas with Dave Roman
1:15 p.m.
In this live drawing and collaborative storytelling session using audience participation and prompts, authors Isabel Roxas (“Pizza My Heart”) and Mika Song (“The Adventures of Team Pom 2: The Last Dodo) will take turns illustrating the characters from their books, navigating sticky situations (slime, bananas, extreme size changes) drawn from cards the audience picks and with creative input from them and each other. This session will be moderated by Dave Roman, author of the “Astronaut Academy” graphic novel series.
Nature Journaling for Beginners – Rebekah Lowell
2:25 p.m.
Join author Rebekah Lowell (“Catching Flight- Soaring on the Wings of Birds”) to learn what nature journaling is, how to find inspiration and what questions to ask while nature journaling. Participants also will learn how to create a page spread, how to design a page layout, and how to add data facts such as date, time, weather or any other observations of the moment to their journaling.
Animal Artwork and Poetry – Jennifer Klein
3:15 p.m.
Let’s be creative! After reading some animal poems together, participants will create an original animal artwork and poem. Learn techniques to make animals come alive! Then write about the animal using a fun format for writing poems.
Brainstorm Your College Essay Topic – Suzanne Zweizig
4:15 p.m.
This workshop will give participants a chance to explore potential topics for their Common App college essay. Look at samples of successful essays and brainstorm ideas based on the Common App list of prompts. The second half of the session will focus on writing and exploring participants’ own topics, sharing their writing and receiving feedback. Participants will leave with several options for their topic and a take-home packet containing sample essays and tips.
No pre-registration is required for these free workshops. Participants should plan to show up at the time their preferred workshop is scheduled to start - please check the Festival website for the adult workshop schedule and children's workshop times. Workshops are generally limited to 20 participants, but individual presenters can expand the workshop at their discretion.
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Find Top Authors and Fun Activities to Inspire Love of Reading and Writing in The Children's Village
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Literature will come to life for children of all ages as the Gaithersburg Book Festival brings together a variety of story times, interactive activities and games, and expert-led workshops to inspire creativity and foster a love a reading and writing.
The Festival’s Children’s Village, brought to you by Washington Parent, will be the place where youngsters can meet their favorite authors – and discover new ones – during presentations, readings and book signings.
When you arrive, stop by the Children’s Village Information Booth at the entrance to the Children’s Village and pick up a program, which contains a schedule of all activities. The Festival also will feature a sensory zone, where children and families can find a quiet space outside the hustle and bustle.
In addition to the free writing workshops (see story above for more details), the Children’s Village will host presentations by award-winning and best-selling children's and teen/YA authors and illustrators coming to the Gaithersburg Book Festival, and feature non-stop activities, including:
- Play, Draw and Write – Help Story Tapestries fill their Graffiti Wall with your poetry, stories and visual images. Take home an image you create with crayons, markers and shimmering with glitter. Explore Lunes, 11-word poems, easy to write and a gift for anyone you give it to.
- Pete the Cat, Rhyming Games, Stories and Bookmark-making with Montgomery College Early Childhood Education Student Success Hub.
- Story Time – Sit and enjoy stories about varying cultures throughout the world, read by Montgomery County Public Library, National Federation of the Blind, Story Tapestries and members of the Gaithersburg Multicultural Affairs Committee.
- What's Your Story? – Create your very own book with pre-printed templates and story prompts from An Open Book Foundation.
- Sensory Activities, Arts & Crafts, and Musical Instruments to explore, compliments of Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg.
- Interactive Literary Stations – Reading/stories, counting/grouping/comparing and movement/singing offered by Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families.
- Fish for Words and Swim in Knowledge with Goldfish Swim School Gaithersburg. Bubbles, the guppy, will be on hand for pictures and to share his books.
- Make Interpretive Art using stories and poems with VisArts.
- Enjoy Games and Books in Braille and try your ability at picture description with The National Federation of the Blind, Sligo Creek Chapter.
- Rainbow Fish Story Activity – Color your own rainbow fish, using glitter glue for fish scales, and then write a short story about your fish with Kids First Swim School.
- Encourage Empathy through Crafts and Story Time – Magnet play and creation, shoe tying practice, feeling face mirror drawings, exploration of point of view through optical illusions. Coordinated by The Dwelling Place, Inc.
- Flower Fun – Tell us your favorite flower, write a short paragraph about why it is your favorite and then create it with the help of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital.
- Print your own keepsake card on a vintage Kelsey Letterpress while learning the basics of letterpress printing with the expert staff at Frederick Book Arts Center. Then send your handmade art to someone special.
- Connect the dots by exploring the books of Peter Reynolds with BlackRock Center for the Arts. Take home free visual arts extension activities for kids of all ages.
- Create your own bookmark using multiple pre-printed designs by Amazing Art Studio.
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New Additions to Featured Authors
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In just about a month, more than 100 awesome authors will converge at the Gaithersburg Book Festival. Some of the newest award-winners and best-sellers added to our line-up include:
~ Fiction ~
 Louis Bayard’s acclaimed novels include "The Pale Blue Eye," adapted into the global #1 Netflix release starring Christian Bale; "Jackie & Me," ranked by The Washington Post as one of the top novels of 2022; the national best-seller "Courting Mr. Lincoln;" "Roosevelt's Beast;" "The School of Night;" "The Black Tower" and "Mr. Timothy," as well as the highly praised young-adult novel, "Lucky Strikes." A New York Times Notable author, Louis has been nominated for both the Edgar and Dagger awards, and his work has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
 Craig Laurance Gidney is the author of "Sea, Swallow Me & Other Stories;" "Skin Deep Magic: Stories;" "Bereft" (a YA novella); and "A Spectral Hue" (a novel). He has been a Lambda Literary Finalist three times, was a Carl Brandon Parallax Award Finalist, and won the inaugural Joseph S. Pulver Sr. Award for Weird Fiction. "The Nectar of Nightmares" is his most recent collection. He lives in Washington, D.C.
 Melanie S. Hatter is an award-winning author of two novels and one short story collection. Her most recent novel, "Malawi’s Sisters," was selected by Edwidge Danticat as the winner of the inaugural Kimbilio National Fiction Prize and was published by Four Way Books in 2019. Her debut novel, "The Color of My Soul," won the 2011 Washington Writers’ Publishing House Fiction Prize, and "Let No One Weep for Me, Stories of Love and Loss" was released in 2015. She is a participating author with the PEN/Faulkner Writers in Schools program and serves on the board of the Washington Writers' Publishing House.
 Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of eight novels, most recently "Red London" and "The Fervor." Prior to the publication of her first novel, she had a 35-year career as a senior intelligence analyst for CIA and NSA, as well as RAND, the global policy think tank. Alma is a graduate of the Masters writing program at Johns Hopkins University. She lives outside Washington, D.C., with her husband.
~ Non-Fiction ~
 Nevin Martell a Washington, D.C.-based food and travel writer, parenting essayist, recipe developer, and photographer who has been published by The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, USA Today, The Daily Beast, Men’s Journal, National Geographic, Fortune, Travel + Leisure, Washingtonian, Washington City Paper and many other publications. He is the author of eight books, including "Red Truck Bakery Cookbook: Gold-Standard Recipes from America’s Favorite Rural Bakery" and "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip."
 Jim Popkin is an investigative journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, WIRED and on NPR. He ran the NBC News Investigative Unit, where he was a senior producer and on-air correspondent. Jim reported for NBC News for 14 years, for the TODAY Show, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC and CNBC. He won four national Emmy Awards for outstanding journalism, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, the George Polk Award, and was a finalist for the National Magazine Award. Jim received a BA from Northwestern University and a Master’s from Yale Law School, and lives in Washington, D.C. He is author of "Code Name Blue Wren."
~ Mystery/Thriller ~
Julia Bartz is The New York Times best-selling author of "The Writing Retreat" and a practicing therapist. Her fiction writing has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. Julia lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
 Andrea Bartz is a journalist and The New York Times best-selling author of Reese’s Book Club pick, "We Were Never Here," "The Lost Night" and "The Herd." Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Vogue and many other outlets, and she's held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today and Self, among other publications. She and her partner split their time between Brooklyn, N.Y., and the Catskills.
 Tara Laskowski's debut suspense novel, "One Night Gone," won the Agatha Award, Macavity Award and the Anthony Award. Her second novel, "The Mother Next Door," was called a “polished and entertaining read” by The New York Times Book Review. She also wrote two short story collections, "Modern Manners for Your Inner Demons" and "Bystanders." She has won the Agatha Award and Thriller Award for her short fiction and was the longtime editor of the online flash fiction journal SmokeLong Quarterly. She lives in Virginia with her husband, crime writer Art Taylor, and their son Dashiell.
 Art Taylor is the author of two collections: "The Adventure of the Castle Thief and Other Expeditions and Indiscretions" and "The Boy Detective & The Summer of ’74 and Other Tales of Suspense." His debut book, "On the Road with Del & Louise: A Novel in Stories," won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. His short fiction has also won the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Derringer and Macavity Awards.
~ Poetry ~
 Kwame Sound Daniels is a traditional and fiber artist based out of Maryland. Xe are an Anaphora Arts Residency Fellow and an MFA candidate for Vermont College of Fine Arts. Xir first collection of poetry, "Light Spun," was published in 2022 with Perennial Press. Xir second book, "the pause and the breath," was on Lambda Literary’s Most Anticipated for January and came out in 2023. Kwame learns plant medicine, paints and makes what can tentatively be called potions in xir spare time.
 Hajar Hussaini is a poet and translator from Kabul, Afghanistan, living in Saratoga Springs, Fla., where she is a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Skidmore College. Her debut poetry collection, "Disbound," was published in 2022 by the University of Iowa Press. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, her work has appeared in various journals, including Poetry Magazine, AAWW—Margins and Pamenar Press. She is currently working on the English translation of an Afghan novel.
~ Childrens ~
 Sayantani DasGupta is The New York Times best-selling author of the critically acclaimed Bengali folktale and string theory inspired "Fire Queen" and forthcoming "Secrets of the Sky" series, in addition to the "Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond" books, the first of which -- "The Serpent's Secret" -- was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Booklist Best Middle Grade Novel of the 21st Century and an E. B. White Read Aloud Honor Book. She’s also the author of "Debating Darcy" and "Rosewood," contemporary YA reimaginings of Jane Austen's works and a team member of We Need Diverse Books.
 Marti Dumas taught elementary school literacy for 10 years, conducts teacher literacy trainings, and is the author of "Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest." She lives in New Orleans with her family. Marti will be presenting "Charmed Life (Wildseed Witch Book 2)."
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Revolutionary Time Had at March Intergenerational Book Club
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 Participants at the March meeting of the Intergenerational Book Club had a "revolutionary" time talking about "Rebel Spy" by Veronica Rossi. This discussion was our liveliest one yet as everyone put their heads together to analyze and theorize about the intriguing life of George Washington's unknown female spy known only as 355.
The next book club meeting will be on Sunday, April 23, at 3 p.m. at the Discovery Center (129 Ellington Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD). At that meeting, we will discuss "The Firekeeper's Daughter" by Angeline Boulley, a featured author at the May 20 Gaithersburg Book Festival.
Interested in joining the Intergenerational Book Club?
The Intergenerational Book Club -- presented by the Gaithersburg Book Festival, The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center and Link Generations -- brings together adults ages 55 and better from the Gaithersburg community with teens involved in Link Generations clubs.
If you would like to become a member, please email Sam Martin (adults) or Lori Marks (students).
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Washington Parent: The #1 Resource for Parents in the DMV for 40 Years
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F or 40 years, Washington Parent Media has been a trusted resource for parents in the Washington, D.C. metro area. We are an award-winning monthly digital magazine reaching over 200,000 engaged parents in the DMV. We offer parents in our local communities expert advice, stories on parenting trends and issues and a variety of ways for parents to enrich their experience raising their children.
Washington Parent offers in-depth special features, resource guides and award-winning content each month. Monthly focuses include: Education, Family Health & Camps (January); Heart Health, Dental Health & Camps (February); Nutrition, Camps & Spring Break Guide (March); Children with Disabilities, Earth Day, Financial Literacy & Camps (April); Mental Health & Well-Being, New & Expectant Parents, Camps (May); Family Fun, Celebrating Fathers, Safety, Stay & Play! or Family Getaways & Camps (June); Child Care & Preschools, Summer Fun (July); Back-to-School, STEAM, Stay & Play! or Family Getaways & Immunization Awareness (August); Back-to-School, Tutors & Educational Services, Baby Safety, Fall Fun, School Open Houses (September); Education, Washington Parent Picks Reader-Favorite Contest Winners, Bullying Prevention, Autumn Outings & Halloween Happenings (October); Celebrate the Arts, Children with Disabilities, Adoption, Thanksgiving (November); Holidays, Health & Fitness, Winter Break Camps (December).
Go to washingtonparent.com to find back issues, resource guides and current stories.
Find out what’s happening in the DMV in our "ALONG THE POTOMAC" events calendar. Discover the latest family-friendly entertainment, festivals, shows, classes and more at washingtonparent.com.
You will find us out and about at community events, as well as Washington Parent's annual Camp & Summer Fun Expos.
“We love helping families in the communities we serve to connect and grow together,” said Washington Parent Publisher Jacky Dooly Martin.
Washington Parent Media is a proud supporter of the Gaithersburg Book Festival.
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Festival Parking Limited: Plan Ahead!
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Ride the shuttle to the Gaithersburg Book Festival for a stress-free day!
Parking onsite at the event is extremely limited, and fills early.
Save yourself the hassle by planning ahead to take the FREE and accessible shuttle to and from the festival!
Shuttles run continuously from 9:15 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. from the following locations:
Gaithersburg, MD
15903 Somerville Drive
Rockville, MD
Gaithersburg, MD
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We Want You...
To Volunteer May 20
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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 2023 Gaithersburg Book Festival. The Festival is an enormous undertaking that would not be possible without the generous assistance of numerous volunteers. There are many different ways
you can help us put on this
Sign-Up Form. We’ll be in touch to find out more about your interests and availability and to provide training.
Note: You must be at least
16 years old to apply.
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Official Bookseller
& Partner
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The Gaithersburg Book Festival thanks the organizations that have recently pledged their support to this year's event.
~ Literary Sponsors ~
Amazing Art Studio
BlackRock Center for the Arts
Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Maryland
Soroptimist International of Upper Montgomery County, MD
The Last Word
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
~ Book Lovers ~
Achieving True Self
AoPS Academy Gaithersburg
Downtown Crown/Kite Realty Group
East English Gaithersburg of Jehovah's Witnesses
Kevin Bushell Foundation
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Become a
Friend of the Festival
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You can become a Festival Friend, and help ensure the GBF remains free and open to all.
Donate through G-PARC, a 501(c)(3) with a mission to promote awareness, engage public and private partnerships and raise resources for parks, arts and recreation in the City of Gaithersburg.
All donations made to G-PARC directly support the GBF and
are tax-deductible.
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Stay connected with the GBF online on your favorite channels:
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Subscribe to the
GBF Newsletter
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Share the GBF Newsletter with your friends, family and book club members so they can see the latest news from the Gaithersburg Book Festival. Simply click the "Send to a Friend" button at the top of this newsletter to pass along this issue. To become a regular GBF Newsletter subscriber,
join our mailing list. Subscriber contact information
will be used solely for the newsletter and will not be shared
or sold to other parties.
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