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The Friends of the Mt. Pleasant Library will the Mt. Pleasant Literary Festival April 24-26.
This event will feature a lineup of nationally recognized, regional and local authors, offering an opportunity for readers and book lovers to engage with their favorite writers, renowned literary figures and discover new voices.
The festival will host authors for adults, teens and children, including Mary Alice Monroe, Terah Shelton Harris, Craig Johnson, Eric Litwin, Maurice Manning, Andy Runton, Lauren Denton, Emily Francis, Megan Shepherd, Kimberly Wilson and Dr. Sadie Leder Elder.
Festival Highlights:
• Author Discussions and Q&A Sessions: Discussions with bestselling authors about their latest works, writing processes and literary journeys.
• Book Signings: Get your favorite books signed by the authors. An independent bookstore will offer books for sale at the festival. Author Mary Alice Monroe’s new book will be available for pre-order with book plates for autographing.
• Workshops: Participate in hands-on workshops for teens.
• Children’s Activities: Special sessions for young readers, including storytelling and interactive activities.
“We are excited to host such an incredible lineup of authors for our community,” said Marcia Morris, president of the Friends of the Mt. Pleasant Library. “This festival is a celebration of the written word and the power of stories, poetry and illustrations to connect us all. We hope it will inspire and delight readers of all ages.”
The festival will be held at the new Mt. Pleasant Library and Active Living Center, 1111 N. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant.
All events are free, thanks to donations from businesses and individuals. The festival is also supported by a grant from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the Cabarrus Arts Council.
Author Schedule:
• Mary Alice Monroe – April 24 – 6 p.m. – The New York Times bestselling author opens the festival with a discussion of her first book in four years, “Where The Rivers Merge,” scheduled for publication in May.
• Dr. Sadie Leder Elder – April 25 – 11 a.m. – A children’s story time and craft activity feature the mischievous escapades of Boopers The Bad Cat.
• Kimberly Wilson – April 25 – 3:30 p.m. – This children’s read aloud adventure features clever and funny wordplay and crafts, all designed to teach financial literacy.
• Lauren Denton, April 25 – 6 p.m. – The USA Today recognized author shares stories from her Southern fiction novels and her monthly newspaper column about life, relationships and how hard it is to be a parent.
• Eric Litwin, April 26 – 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon (three shows) – Singing and dancing with the author of “Pete The Cat,” brings early literary, music and positivity together.
• Emily Francis, April 26 – 10 a.m. – Cabarrus County Schools teacher and author of “If You Only Knew” shares stories of how her experience as a Guatemalan immigrant turned into a journey that today inspires students to be better and do better.
• Andy Runton, April 26 – Noon – Learn to draw like a pro at an Interactive graphic novel workshop for all ages featuring illustrations and cartooning from the author of “The Owly.”
• Megan Shepherd, April 26 – Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (three workshops) – The New York Times bestseller and Carnegie Medal-nominated author leads a writing workshop for teens and young adults.
• Maurice Manning, April 26 – 2 p.m. – The celebrated Kentucky poet entertains with his unique brand of storytelling with poetry and playing the banjo.
• Terah Shelton Harris, April 26 – 3 p.m. – With moderator Laura Beth Vietor, the Target Author of the Year talks about her journey from a librarian to a published author, and discusses her newest book, “Long After We Are Gone,” set in North Carolina.
• Craig Johnson, April 26 – 6 p.m. – New York Times best selling author of the Walter Longmire series of western mystery novels adapted into “Longmire,” a crime drama series on Netflix closes the festival.
All author events are free, but seating is limited.
For more information, updates and to reserve a seat, please visit the Friends of the Library website at www.mpfol.org.
Friends of the Mt. Pleasant Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Mt. Pleasant Library and promoting literacy, lifelong learning and the love of reading.
Through fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement, the organization works to enhance the library’s resources and services for the benefit of all patrons.