A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

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Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 17, 2025

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Author Archives: Jennie Cottrell

Kimberly L. Becker: Recommended Read of 2011

Kimberly L. Becker is a member of Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers and is of Cherokee/Celtic/Teutonic descent. Her poems appear in numerous journals and anthologies, including the “Native Women’s Poetics” issue of Drunken Boat . Her first book, “Words Facing East,” was chosen as one of the Best Poetry Books of 2011 for… Continue Reading

Brad Parks: Recommended Read of 2011

Brad Parks is the author of “Eyes of the Innocent” and “Faces of the Gone,” which won the Nero Award for Best American Mystery and the Shamus Award for Best First Mystery . Parks was the first author in the combined 60-year history of the Nero and the Shamus to win both awards for the same book. The hero of Parks’ first… Continue Reading

Phil Trupp: Recommended Reads of 2011

Phil Trupp is a veteran investigative journalist, and the author of “Ruthless: How Enraged Investors Reclaimed Their Investments and Beat Wall Street.” He is a regular commentator for New York Times Dealbook and New York Magazine online. His commentary appears regularly on Larry Doyle’s “SenseonCents” covering a wide variety of economic news and… Continue Reading

Mary Downing Hahn: Recommended Reads of 2011

Mary Downing Hahn is the author of spine-chilling ghost stories, spooky mysteries, and other books for children and teens, including “Mary Downing Hahn’s Haunting Tales” (available as a NookBook), “Witch Catcher,” “The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall,” and “All the Lovely Bad Ones.” Hahn, a former children’s librarian, has been writing children’s books for more than 30 years and her books… Continue Reading

Sophy Burnham: Recommended Reads of 2011

Sophy Burnham is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and non-fiction writer. Her latest book is “The Art of Intuition: Cultivating Your Inner Wisdom.” Three of her books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list as well as other bestseller lists. Her… Continue Reading

Alan Orloff: Recommended Reads of 2011

Alan Orloff is the author of the Agatha Award Finalist “Diamonds for the Dead,” which Publisher’s Weekly called a “thought-provoking debut.” Orloff also writes the Last Laff Mystery series: “Killer Routine” and the upcoming “Deadly Campaign,” which will be released next month.   Orloff’s “excellent books” read in 2011 include:   “Innocent Monster” by Reed Farrel Coleman.  … Continue Reading

Susi Wyss: Recommended Read of 2011

Susi Wyss is the author of “The Civilized World: A Novel in Stories,” which follows five women — two of them haunted by a shared tragedy — as their lives intersect in unexpected and sometimes explosive ways. The Boston Globe called Wyss’ debut novel “unique and memorable” and Publisher’s… Continue Reading

Michael C. White: Recommended Reads of 2011

Michael C. White is the author of seven books including “Soul Catcher,” which was a Booksense and Historical Novels Review selection, as well as a finalist for the Connecticut Book Award, and “A Brother’s Blood,” which was a New York Times Book Review Notable Book and a Barnes… Continue Reading

Kathryn Erskine: Recommended Reads of 2011

Kathryn Erskine is the author of four children’s books: “The Absolute Value of Mike,” “Mockingbird,” “Quaking,” and “Ibhubesi: The Lion.” Erskine received the National Book Award in 2010 for “Mockingbird” and her book “The Absolute Value of Mike” was voted a “Best Children’s Book of 2011” by BookPage .   When we asked Erskine for her recommendations for 2011, she said: “As a children’s… Continue Reading

Mary Quattlebaum: Recommended Reads of 2011

Mary Quattlebaum is the author of more than 15 books for children and young adults. Her 2011 publications include “Pirate vs. Pirate,” which was given a “Four-Arrrrrr! rating” by School Library Journal and called “an all-around winner” by Publishers Weekly. Other 2011 books by Quattlebaum… Continue Reading