Featured Authors
We are currently planning the 2025 Gaithersburg Book Festival and will start listing Featured Authors this Fall.
Latest Title: The Basketball 100
David Aldridge is a senior columnist for The Athletic, primarily covering the NBA and Washington, D.C., sports. The Athletic is a digital subscription sports website now operating through The New York Times Company, and has more than 1.2 million subscribers… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube
Kerry Aradhya has loved puzzling over words and immersing herself in the creative process ever since she was a little girl growing up in Erie, Pa. Her debut picture book, “Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube,” was a 2024 Junior… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Freedom Fire: Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos
Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times best-selling author of 26 books for children, including the popular “Jumbies”series – “The Jumbies,” “Rise of the Jumbies” and “The Jumbie God’s Revenge” – as well as the picture book, “Looking for a… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts
In the words of The New York Times, Louis Bayard “reinvigorates historical fiction,” rendering the past “as if he’d witnessed it firsthand.” His acclaimed novels include “The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts;” “The Pale Blue Eye,” adapted into the global… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Star Sailor: My Life as a NASA Astronaut
Charles F. Bolden Jr. became the first Black NASA Administrator in 2009. He logged more than 600 hours in space over the course of four shuttle missions. During Bolden’s eight-year tenure as NASA Administrator, the agency developed a spacecraft to… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Fall for Him
Andie Burke specializes in big-hearted, queer romcoms that kick-off with meet-disasters rather than meet-cutes. When not writing, she works as a pediatric radiology nurse. She lives with two small, but hilarious, humans in a Maryland home filled with an alarming… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Reunion: A Rock and Roll Fairy Tale
Gary Burr is one of Nashville’s most accomplished songwriters with 14 number ones songs. His songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill, Lynyrd Skynyrd and many others. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Behind Every Good Man
Sara Goodman Confino is the best-selling author of “Behind Every Good Man,” “Don’t Forget to Write,” “She’s Up to No Good” and “For the Love of Friends.” After spending many years teaching high school English and journalism in Montgomery County,… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Fairy Walk
Gaia Cornwall loves to write and illustrate for children. She is the author-illustrator of “Jabari Jumps,” which was a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book and an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book; and its follow-up, “Jabari Tries,” as well as “The… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Ghost Forest (Secrets of the Sky, Book Three)
Sayantani DasGupta is The New York Times best-selling author of the critically acclaimed, Bengali folktale and string theory-inspired “Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond” books, the first of which — “The Serpent’s Secret” — was a Bank Street Best Book of… Continue Reading
Latest Title: South of Nowhere (A Colter Shaw Novel)
Jeffery Deaver is an international #1 best-selling author. His novels have appeared on best-seller lists around the world. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. He has served two terms as president of Mystery Writers… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers
Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and grew up in the great state of Texas. She now resides on the East Coast with her boyfriend, Kyle, and their petite dog, Petunia. She is also the author and illustrator of… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Unarmed: An American Educator's Memoir
Megan Doney is a writer and English professor in Virginia. Her work has been published in Ilanot Review, New Limestone Review, Rappahannock Review, Creative Nonfiction, Earth & Altar and Inside Higher Ed, as well as in the anthologies “Allegheny” and “If… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Truth, Lies, and the Questions in Between
L. M. Elliott was a senior writer with Washingtonian magazine before becoming an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of 14 historical and biographical fictions. Her YA novels include “Under a War-Torn Sky;” “Bea and the New Deal Horse;” “Hamilton… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Kwame Crashes the Underworld
Craig Kofi Farmer is a Prince George’s County, Md., native, with two Bachelor of Science degrees from Towson University and one Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. He works in higher education administration, helping students… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Family I'm In
As the prolific author of numerous books, Sharon G. Flake’s novels have brought a bold dimension to literature for young people, selling more than a million copies worldwide, and reaching readers across the globe through numerous translations and theatrical productions.… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
Evan Friss is a New York Times best-selling author and a professor of history at James Madison University. His most recent book, “The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore,” garnered rave reviews in The Washington Post, The New York… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Book of Flaco: The World's Most Famous Bird
David Gessner is the author of “The Book of Flaco: The World’s Most Famous Bird,” and many other books that blend a love of nature, humor, memoir and environmentalism, including The New York Times best-selling “All the Wild That Remains.”… Continue Reading
Latest Title: InvestiGators: Agents of S.U.I.T.: Wild Ghost Chase
John Patrick Green is a human with the human job of making books about animals with human jobs, notably the smash-hit graphic novel series “InvestiGators.” John is definitely a multiple New York Times best-selling human author and not just a… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Friends with Secrets
Christine Gunderson grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in rural North Dakota where she read Laura Ingalls Wilder books in her very own little house on the prairie. She’s a former television anchor and reporter, and former Capitol Hill… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, a Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice
Barbara Bradley Hagerty is a New York Times best-selling author and an accomplished journalist. She is a contributing writer to The Atlantic and her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times and PBS, among… Continue Reading
Latest Title: When I Hear Spirituals
Cheryl Willis Hudson is an author, editor, publisher and respected member of the children’s book community. She is co-founder, with her husband Wade, of Just Us Books, Inc., an independent publishing company that focuses on Black interest books for young… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Color of a Lie
Kim Johnson held leadership positions in social justice organizations as a teen and in college, then made her life’s work to transform higher education to advance equity and access as a vice provost. She is now an author, speaker, faculty… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Saphie the One-Eyed Cat Volume 1
Joanna Ho (JOHO), hailing from a lineage of cat butlers, earned her B.F.A. from George Mason University. Her artistry and lineage showcased in “Saphie: The One-Eyed Cat,” captures hearts by melding her profound feline connection with illustration. She is also… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II
“Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II” is the fourth non-fiction book by Pulitzer Prize-finalist journalist and historian Gregg Jones. His previous books are “Honor in Dust: Theodore Roosevelt, War in the… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs
Alan Katz has written 50+ highly acclaimed books for young readers. A frequent presenter at regional and national conferences and festivals, his titles include “Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs,” “Got Your Nose!,” “OOPS!,” “Zooloween”… Continue Reading
Latest Title: I See You've Called in Dead
John Kenney is the author of three novels, including the forthcoming “I See You’ve Called in Dead,” and four books of poetry. His first novel, “Truth In Advertising,” won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is also the author… Continue Reading
Latest Title: We Are Big Time
Hena Khan is a Pakistani-American writer. She is the author of the middle-grade novel, “Amina’s Voice,” which was selected as a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus, NPR, The Washington Post and Chicago Public Library. Her other titles include… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Mr. Fox's Game of No!
Does David LaRochelle ever get tired of making books for young people? No! He can’t think of a better profession in the world! He is the author of “Isle of You,: illustrated by Jaime Kim, as well as “How to… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Meet the Mini-Mammals: A Night at the Natural History Museum
Brian Lies is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 children’s books, including the new “Meet the Mini Mammals: A Night at the Natural History Museum” (by Melissa Stewart, Beach Lane Books) and upcoming “Cat Nap” (Greenwillow / HarperCollins, Fall… Continue Reading
Latest Title: A Spider Named Itsy
Steve Light is the creator of “Gus and Sully Watch the Weather,” as well as the board books, “Black Bird Yellow Sun;” “Mama Tiger, Tiger Cub;” “Up Cat Down Cat” and “Have You Seen My Lunch Box?” Among his many… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon
Grace Lin is the award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator of “Chinese Menu,” “When the Sea Turned to Silver,” “Starry River of the Sky,” “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon,” “The Year of the Dog,” “The Year of the Rat,”… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Gift of the Great Buffalo
Carole Lindstrom is the author of The New York Times best-selling and Caldecott Award–winning “We Are Water Protectors,” “My Powerful Hair” and “Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior.” She is Anishinaabe/Métis and is a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of… Continue Reading
Latest Title: I'm Sorry for My Loss: An Urgent Examination of Reproductive Care in America
Colleen Long, a White House correspondent for The Associated Press whose work has appeared in every major news publication in the world, was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2019. She lives in Washington, D.C. She will be presenting… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Booklover's Library
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and international best-selling author of historical fiction with books that have been translated into over 25 different languages. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband (known as Mr.… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Space Chasers by Leland Melvin
Leland Melvin is an engineer, educator, author, former NASA astronaut and NFL wide receiver. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on mission STS-122 (2008) and STS-129 (2009), helping to construct the International Space Station.… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Max and Mama
Laura Numeroff is the acclaimed #1 New York Times best-selling children’s author of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and the subsequent “If You Give” series. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y, she graduated from Pratt Institute in 1975… Continue Reading
Latest Title: House of Glass
Sarah Pekkanen is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of 15 solo and co-authored novels. Her books are sold in 36 countries, with several optioned for TV and film. Sarah also co-wrote the screenplay for “The Wife Between Us”… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments
Joe Posnanski is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of seven books, including “Why We Love Baseball,” “The Baseball 100,” “Paterno” and “The Secret of Golf.” He has been named National Sportswriter of the Year by five different organizations.… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Wild and Distant Seas
Tara Karr Roberts is a freelance writer, science writer and newspaper columnist. She is a lifelong Idahoan who grew up along the Pend Oreille River and now lives in Moscow, Idaho, with her family. “Wild and Distant Seas” is her… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Unicorn Boy
Dave Roman is the author/illustrator of several graphic novel series including, “Unicorn Boy” and “Astronaut Academy.” He’s worked as a writer on “Teen Boat! Race for Boatlantis” and “Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery,” and as an illustrator for “Goosebumps… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Rover and Speck: It's a Gas! (Rover and Speck, 3)
Jonathan Roth is an Earth-bound but space loving author-illustrator of fun, STEAM-themed books for kids, including the “Rover and Speck” graphic novel series (Kids Can Press), the “Beep and Bob” chapter book series (Aladdin/S&S) and the true-story picture book, “Almost… Continue Reading
Latest Title: The Tontine Caper
Dianne K. Salerni is the author of several middle grade novels, including Junior Library Guild selections “Eleanor, Alice, & the Roosevelt Ghosts,” “Jadie in Five Dimensions” and “The Carrefour Curse.” Her most recent publication is “The Tontine Caper,” illustrated by… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Rainbow Bear
Michael Sampson, Ph.D., is a New York Times best-selling author of 26 books for young children, including “Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3” and “The Bill Martin Jr. Big Book of Poetry.” Michael is dean of the School of Education at… Continue Reading
Latest Title: When the Moon Hits Your Eye
John Scalzi is one of the most popular sci-fi authors of his generation. His debut, “Old Man’s War,” won him the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times best-sellers include “The Last Colony,” “Fuzzy Nation,”… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend
Bob Shea has written and/or illustrated over 20 picture books including the popular “Dinosaur Vs.” series, “Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great” and the “Ballet Cat” early readers series. His most recent picture book, “Chez Bob,” received three starred reviews, with… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Skunk and Badger (Skunk and Badger 1)
Amy Timberlake’s work has received a Newbery Honor, an Edgar and a Golden Kite Award. She’s had books on the Indie Books Bestseller list, one book was Tattered Covers’ Book of the Year, and reviews have appeared in The New… Continue Reading
Latest Title: Snow
Meera Trehan grew up outside Washington, D.C., and attended the University of Virginia and Stanford Law School. After practicing law for over a decade, she turned to creative writing. Her debut novel, “The View from the Very Best House in… Continue Reading