A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 17, 2025

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Author Archives: Jennie Cottrell

My First Book Festival Experience

by Exhibiting Author J. Hawki Exhibiting at a book festival is an exhilarating experience that favors the well prepared. If you hope to achieve the intended purpose of marketing and selling your work, exposing yourself as a creditable candidate in… Continue Reading

Getting Real with Karina Yan Glaser

from Committee Volunteer Melissa McDonald As a lover of children’s books (which is a good thing because I am an elementary school librarian), I was delighted to be handed a copy of “The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street” by Karina Yan Glaser . This debut… Continue Reading

Ray Bradbury, ninjas, and cartoons

by Exhibiting Author Grant Goodman “I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.” -Ray Bradbury I will never forget the first… Continue Reading

Open Doors to Opportunity — How? “Write to Influence!”

by Exhibiting Author Carla D. Bass Oprah calls it, “a heart song” … I call it, “a passion.” And, I’ve been blessed with two. The first — a career in Air Force intelligence, a path I chose in 7th grade, following… Continue Reading

Inspiration for anti-Trump satire

by Exhibiting Author Philip Becnel When Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election I snapped a picture in the dark. This black square became my Facebook profile, a symbol of the bleak future I saw for America. I then took a… Continue Reading

Why My Main Character’s Name Means “Thanks”

by Exhibiting Author Jeff Minerd Ideas for stories usually come to me in bits and pieces, as I’m daydreaming or taking a walk. But not the idea for my novel The Sailweaver’s Son. This fantasy adventure and coming-of-age story came… Continue Reading

Lessons in Writing Steampunk from Geneology

by Exhibiting Author Laurel Wanrow I’ve been asked why I chose to locate my steampunk series, The Luminated Threads, in the countryside instead of London or another city, the gritty setting of most steampunk fantasies. Well, I’ve never been to… Continue Reading

Gaithersburg Book Festival: How did I get here? And why does it matter?

by Exhibiting Author Amanda Moskowitz I’ve been a long-time proprietor of the Gaithersburg Book Festival. It’s a great event for families, especially those with young children. You get to interact with local authors, eat great food, and inspire a love… Continue Reading

A Storyteller and Cancer

by Exhibiting Author Antoinette Truglio Martin Stories fill our lives. We wake up, meander through our routines, and return to the day’s end. Along the way, stories collect. They are born from our observations, interactions, and adventures. We celebrated the… Continue Reading

How to Turn Creative Writing Class Assignment into a Novel… Or How to Succeed By Not Following Directions

by Exhibiting Author Heather Cumiskey I’ve never been good at following directions. I often like to do my own thing and go with my gut a lot. Though my family can tell you, it doesn’t usually bode well when I attempt… Continue Reading