Tales of a Not-So-Unpopular Event
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Photos courtesy of MCPL
Gaithersburg Library was all “dorked” out for a visit from the writing and drawing team behind The New York Times best-selling "Dork Diaries" series!
The Gaithersburg Book Festival and Montgomery County Public Libraries were delighted to have over 200 kids and adults join us at the Gaithersburg Library on November 2 to meet the "Dork Diaries" creators, Rachel Renée Russell and Nikki Russell. The mother-daughter duo delivered an interactive talk on the creative process of their series, such as drawing inspiration from real-life events like when Rachel was in a band with her sisters or the time Nikki got locked inside the school!
Rachel and Nikki also took time "dorkifying" members of the audience by drawing their portraits in the "Dork Diaries" style and making special connections with their many dedicated fans, some of whom came from as far away as Leesburg, Va.!
Attendees also had the opportunity to get the latest book in the series, "Tales of a Not-So-Bratty Little Sister," signed by Rachel and Nikki, plus a little extra swag to remind them to always be themselves. Some excited readers couldn't wait to get home to start their new book and began reading right there in the signing line! Overall, the Russells made sure that this was a visit these children won't forget.
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Annual H.S. Poetry Contest
Now Accepting Submissions
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2025 Theme Focuses on Civic Duty
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is now accepting submissions for its annual high school poetry contest. This year’s theme is civic duty. Poets are encouraged to address what civic duty means to them, why it is important to them, what citizens should be expected to do, what duties young people should engage in and more. The sky’s the limit.
First- and second-place winners will receive $250 and $100, respectively. Third place and fan favorite winners will receive $50 and $25, respectively.
Winners will be unveiled at the 2025 Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 17, 2025, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm. The top 3 winners and the Fan Favorite will be asked to read their winning poems during the awards ceremony.
“We’re looking forward to another great showcase for our student poets,” said Jud Ashman, Festival Chair and Mayor of the City of Gaithersburg. “Last year’s finalists did phenomenal work for our 15th anniversary celebration, and this election year, I cannot wait to delve into what our young poets have to share about civic duty.”
To participate, students must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at a public or private high school, or be in a homeschool program, for the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, entrants must reside in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia.
Submission guidelines:
- Word document (.doc or .docx), typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman
- One page in length
- File name should be the title of the poem only (e.g., The_Red_Fern.doc); do not include the name of the student or school in the file name or on the document
- Must be the original work of the student and not previously published online or in print
- Poems generated by artificial intelligence will not be accepted
Deadline: Poems must be submitted electronically via web by midnight ET on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
By submitting work to the contest, students grant the Gaithersburg Book Festival a non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, transmit and exhibit the poem, and any portions thereof, via any medium without financial compensation.
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. A release will be required.
Complete rules can be found on the Festival website. Questions can be emailed to writingcontest@gaithersburgbookfestival.org.
To share details about this contest, download the printable flyer.
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Official Bookseller
& Partner
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Become a
2025 Festival
Sponsor
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Sponsoring the Gaithersburg Book Festival is a great way to show that you support the community and the literary arts, while gaining visibility with our attendees, who are among the region’s best-read and most well-educated individuals.
Learn more about how you can become a festival sponsor.
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Lead a Workshop
at the
2025 Festival
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Professionals in the literary community with teaching experience are invited to submit proposals to lead writing workshops at the 2025 Festival.
The Workshop Selection Committee bases final choices on several factors, including the teaching experience of the leader, topic appeal, and ensuring a variety of offerings.
Proposed workshops should be 45 to 55 minutes long, specific in scope, and target a specific audience age range.
To be considered, submit your proposal by March 1, 2025.
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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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