Our Featured Authors Share what they are Most Looking Forward to During this Year’s Festival
We asked our featured authors what they’re most looking forward to about the Collingswood Book Festival. Read on to find out what they had to say!
Authors of Children’s Fiction & Nonfiction
This will be my first time participating, so I am excited to meet and engage with readers, young and seasoned. It will be a great kick-off for National Bullying Prevention Month, since bullying is the main theme of Penelope Takes Her Power Back.
-Adrienne Purnell Brown
I enjoy meeting and chatting with other authors, and spending the day with kids and their grownups who love books.
-Rachelle Burk
I can't wait to share Gigi's story with young readers at the Collingswood Book Festival!
-Dr. Marisa Castronova
Meeting everyone who comes—the organizers, the other authors, the illustrators, the vendors, the families. I'm looking forward to talking about three historical characters I have loved — Henriette Wyeth, William Morris, and Virginia Woolf — and to hearing the stories readers will tell me about their own encounters with them.
-Beth Kephart
Meeting people and sharing my stories with children in LoompaLand.
-Kathleen D. Lindsey
I look forward to talking to people who have their own memories of 9/11 as well as those who don't yet know the hopeful story of the 9/11 Survivor Tree.
-Ann Magee
We are excited to return to our southern New Jersey roots and connect with children, parents, grandparents, and educators who share our passion for writing and love of reading.
-Norma E. Roth & Shayna Rose Penn
This is my first book festival as a published illustrator I'm excited to see what it is like on the other side of the table.
-Mr. Tom
Meeting the bookworms and making an impact.
-Steph Ox
Meeting authors and book lovers of all ages!
-Amanda Rowe
Since my first year participating, I'm always impressed and looking forward to the amount of people who come out and support authors.
-Keosha Sath
Connecting with the kiddies!
-Susan Small
The Collingswood Book Festival was the very first book festival I ever attended back in 2009 after my very first book came out. I miss meeting readers young and old and getting to talk to them about my books. This will be one of the first festivals I will attend since the COVID shutdowns and I can't wait to see everyone.
-Timothy Young
Authors of Teen and Tween Fiction & Nonfiction
I love going back to the festival year after year because it's such a warm, inviting community.
-Maria E. Andreu
Being outside at my favorite venue is always something to look forward to. Reconnecting with fellow authors is a highlight. This is my favorite book festival.
-Darlene Beck-Jacobson
People! This is my favorite festival because the community really comes out and supports all authors.
-Charlotte Bennardo
Meeting with young readers who are as excited and enthusiastic about books as I am!
-Donna Gephart
Listening, learning, laughing.
-Kwame Ivery
It's one of my favorite book festivals.
-Jeffry W. Johnston
I have missed interacting with young readers, parents, teachers, and librarians during the long duration of the pandemic. I can't wait to talk to people again!
-Dianne Salerno
Meeting new people
-Eric Smith
Main Street Collingswood is a delightful venue for a street fair. The last time I was at the Collingswood Book Festival it was the perfect October day. Fingers crossed for fair weather once again. And, of course, I can’t wait to talk with readers!
-Kate Szegda
Authors of Adult Fiction & Nonfiction
I am excited an honored to be a part of the Collingswood Book Festival because it allows me to share with a new community and engage with other artists.
-Sannii Crespina-Flores
In person conversations, inspiration, celebrating the local writing community.
-Ann de Forest
I've gone 12 years in a row and always have a great time seeing all the authors and exhibitors and talking with readers.
-Joe Samuel Starnes
It'll be the first bookfest I attend in person since the start of the pandemic. That's reason enough!
-Sung Woo
Poets
Seeing old friends, reading my work, promoting the Wall of Haiku
-Henry Brann
I'm greatly looking forward to being in South Jersey and reading poems in the place where many of them germinated.
-Anthony Cappo
Doing the event with BJ Ward on Stephen Dunn. I have a new book out myself.
-Laura McCullough
The community of like-minded people!
-Kathleen Volk Miller
The variety of local and regional authors and poets eager to share their creative products in a block-party type of atmosphere, in one of South Jersey's best business districts. Of course, I always enjoy what's happening in the Poetry Tent.
-Bruce Niedt
Wall of Haiku, interacting with readers and writers. Networking.
-Robin Palley
I love the sense of community and the readers and writers and book lovers in our town!
-Nancy Reddy
Giving voice to Stephen Dunn's poems with Laura McCullough
-BJ Ward
I am looking forward to supporting independent authors and hanging out with other book nerds
-John Wojtowicz
