On September 22, 2018, St. Louisans can celebrate literature and literary arts at the second annual BookFest St. Louis.
The event is proudly presented by the Central West End Business Community Improvement District, Left Bank Books and the Left Bank Books Foundation.
BookFest St. Louis will host a diverse mix of locally and internationally renowned writers, with appearances by award-winning authors including Sarah Kendzior, Rebecca Schuman, Gary Shteyngart and more.
Academy award-winning actress Sally Field opens the festival with a keynote talk on Friday, September 21 at The Chase Park Plaza. She will discuss her new book, In Pieces, a deeply searing memoir about being a woman – a famous woman – in the last half of the 20th century.
Attendees will enjoy panels highlighting the best of contemporary literary fiction, mystery, poetry, memoir, science fiction, young adult fiction and history. Throughout the day, attendees will also be able to purchase books from participating authors and booksellers, listen to live music and visit booths hosted by St. Louis artisans and literary-focused institutions.
“We are so excited to bring back this amazing literary event to our neighborhood,” says Kate Haher, executive director of the Central West End CID. “The CWE has such a rich cultural history, as well as an incredible active contemporary arts scene, and BookFest St. Louis showcases that to book lovers throughout the region.”
“We are thrilled to be part of BookFest again this year,” Left Bank Books co-owner Kris Kleindienst says. “We’ll be showcasing some great authors, both familiar and new to St. Louis readers. There will be something for everyone, favorites to meet and savor, and rising stars to discover. We know St. Louis has a strong appetite for literary events and we are proud to be able to celebrate that energy with BookFest.”
Left Bank Books, St. Louis’ oldest independent bookstore, has called the Central West End home since 1977 and hosts over 200 author events annually, creating a nationally recognized reputation. It is located at the Central West End’s Writer’s Corner, where busts of St. Louis authors William S. Burroughs, Kate Chopin, T.S. Eliot and Tennessee Williams pay tribute to the neighborhood’s literary legacy.