SPECIAL EVENT:
GBF Welcomes Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins for February 9 Reading and Book Signing
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 In celebration of its 15th year, the Gaithersburg Book Festival will host former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins for a special event on Friday, February 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET at the Asbury Methodist Village Rosborough Cultural Arts Center in Gaithersburg, Md. Collins will share his new book, “Musical Tables,” followed by a book signing and reception.
“What a way to kick off our 15th year, hosting one of America’s most beloved poets!” said Jud Ashman, Festival Founder and Chair, who also serves as Mayor of the City of Gaithersburg. “It is a real honor to bring the great Billy Collins to Gaithersburg and give our community a chance to get to know our former U.S. Poet Laureate and a real master in the poetry space.”
Dubbed “the most popular poet in America” by Bruce Weber in The New York Times, Collins is “famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender, or profound observations on the everyday, reading and writing, and poetry itself.”
Collins served two terms as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001-2003, was New York State Poet Laureate from 2004-2006, and is a regular guest on National Public Radio programs. In 2002, Collins was asked to write a poem commemorating the first anniversary of the fall of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on September 11.
Collins is the author of 12 collections of poetry including “Whale Day,” “The Rain in Portugal,” “Aimless Love,” “Horoscopes for the Dead,” “Ballistics,” “The Trouble with Poetry,” “Nine Horses,” “Sailing Alone Around the Room,” “Questions About Angels,” “The Art of Drowning” and “Picnic, Lightning.” He is also the editor of “Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry,” “180 More: Extraordinary Poems for Every Day” and “Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds.”
Tickets are required for this FREE event. Tickets will be released Friday, February 9 at 10 a.m. ET via Eventbrite. There is a limit of 2 tickets per email address. Look for the ticket link on the GBF website at that time.
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Contest Alert! HS Artists Invited to Design 2024 GBF Program Cover
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 High school students from across Montgomery County, Md., are invited to create an original artwork to be considered for the Gaithersburg Book Festival’s 15th Anniversary Program Cover. The artwork should reflect the theme "Celebrating 15 Years of Books, Writers & Literary Excellence."
To participate in the High School Cover Art Contest, artists must be a high school student – grades 9-12, public, private or homeschooled, in the 2023-2024 school year – in Montgomery County, Md., at the time of entry. Only one submission is allowed per artist.
~ Important Deadlines ~
- Friday, January 5, 2023: Submissions must be received by Noon ET. All submissions must be done online here.
- Friday, February 2, 2024: Notification of selection will be sent to students via email.
- Friday, April 26, 2024: Original artwork due to the Activity Center at Bohrer Park by 5 p.m., along with signed agreement.
For full contest guidelines, visit the GBF website.
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High School Poetry Contest Deadline is February 22
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Winning high school poet to be awarded $250 prize at 2024 Festival on May 18
The 2024 Gaithersburg Book Festival high school poetry contest is open for submissions. This year students are asked to craft a poem on the topic of “Envisioning a Better Future.”
Winners will be unveiled at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 18, 2024. First- and second-place winners will receive $250 and $100, respectively. Third-place and fan favorite winners will receive $50 and $25, respectively.
To participate, students must reside in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia, and be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a public or private school, or be in a homeschool program, for the 2023-2024 school year.
Poems must be submitted electronically via web by midnight ET on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
Up to 12 poems will be selected as finalists and posted on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website prior to the Festival. Finalists will also be asked to record a video of themselves reading their poems, which will be posted on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website.
Complete rules can be found on the GBF website. Email questions to writingcontest@gaithersburgbookfestival.org.
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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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Help Us Celebrate 15 Years of the Festival
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The Gaithersburg Book Festival is selling pins to commemorate its 15th anniversary.
Proceeds from sales will go towards purchasing diverse books to support GPARC & GBF's Little Free Library Program and to enhance program offerings at the 2024 Festival, taking place May 18.
If you LOVE GBF, don't miss out on this opportunity to wear your pin proudly all year long and help spread the word!
Supplies are limited.
Purchase your pin today!
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GBF Seeking Workshop Leaders for 2024
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Professionals in the literary community with teaching experience are invited to submit proposals to lead writing workshops for adults or children in person, at the 2024 Festival.
Workshops are selected on a number of criteria, including teaching experience, topic appeal and ensuring a variety of offerings. Proposed workshops should be 30 to 60 minutes long and specific in scope and target audience age range.
To be considered as a workshop leader, please submit the GBF Workshop Application.
All applications are due no later than March 1, 2024.
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Official Bookseller
& Partner
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Bringing more than 20,000 avid readers and book lovers together each year, the Gaithersburg Book Festival offers an ideal opportunity for your organization to make a name for itself among the best-read and well-educated individuals from across the nation.
Get the notice you deserve in
2024 with a GBF sponsorship.
We offer a variety of sponsorship levels, with new benefits added for our 15th year.
You can also become a Festival Friend, and help ensure the GBF remains free and open to all. These donations can be made 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.
For more information, please
e-mail Amanda McPherson.
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