A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 17, 2025

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Featured Authors

David Aldridge

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

Kerry Aradhya

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

Tracey Baptiste

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

Louis Bayard

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

Charles F. Bolden Jr.

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

Andie Burke

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

Reunion by Gary Burr

Gary Burr

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

Behind Every Good Man by Sara Goodman Confino

Sara Goodman Confino

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

Gaia Cornwall

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

Sayantani DasGupta

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

Jeffery Deaver

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

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers

Angela Dominguez

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

Unarmed by Megan Doney

Megan Doney

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

Laura Malone Elliott

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

Craig Kofi Farmer

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

Sharon G. Flake

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

The Bookshop by Evan Friss

Evan Friss

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

David Gessner

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

John Patrick Green

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

Friends with Secrets by Christine Gunderson

Christine Gunderson

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

Barbara Bradley Hagerty

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

When I Hear Spirituals by Cheryl Willis Hudson

Cheryl Willis Hudson

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

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson

Kim Johnson

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

JOHO

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

Gregg Jones

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

Alan Katz

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

I See You've Called In Dead by John Kenney

John Kenney

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

Hena Khan

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

David LaRochelle

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

Meet the Mini Mammals by Brian Lies

Brian Lies

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

Steve Light

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

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin

Grace Lin

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

Carole Lindstrom

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

I'm Sorry for My Loss by Colleen Long

Colleen Long

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

The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin

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

Space Chasers by Leland Melvin

Leland Melvin

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

Laura Numeroff

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

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Sarah Pekkanen

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

Why We Love Football by Joe Posnanski

Joe Posnanski

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

Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts

Tara Karr Roberts

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

Dave Roman

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

Rover and Speck: It's a Gas by Jonathan Roth

Jonathan Roth

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

The Tontine Caper by Dianne K. Salerni

Dianne K. Salerni

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

Michael Sampson

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

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

John Scalzi

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

Bearsuit Turtle by Bob Shea

Bob Shea

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

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake

Amy Timberlake

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

Meera Trehan

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