DECATUR, Ga. —The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) is excited to announce Joyce Carol Oates will be headlining a lineup of nationally and critically recognized authors. DBF is set to take place October 4 and 5, 2024 in downtown Decatur across several different locations including the First Baptist Church of Decatur, the DeKalb County Public Library, the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, The Reading Room, The Task Force for Global Health and Decatur Square.
Iconic author Joyce Carol Oates has published over 80 works of fiction, short stories, numerous plays, poetry and nonfiction including her latest re-issue of Broke Heart Blues, Joyce Carol Oates: Letters to a Biographer and her most recent novel, Butcher. Oates is a recipient of the National Book Award, PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Humanities Medal and a World Fantasy Award for Short Fiction.
A keynote conversation between Oates and Joe Barry Carroll – DBF Literary Luminary sponsor, former NBA All-Star, artist, author, philanthropist and longtime advocate of DBF –will take place on Friday, October 4 at 7:00 pm on the DeKalb County stage in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Decatur.
“There’s a special joy that comes from connecting today’s authors with the thousands of readers who attend our beloved event. It’s a celebration of all things literary that sparks social, creative and intellectual engagement,” says Denise Auger, DBF’s Program Director. “Our 2022 lineup highlighted so many brilliant local and regional authors. This year’s expanded program includes a diverse array of writers from all around the country, including a spectrum of voices and talents from across the South.”
The full 2024 Festival lineup and program schedule will be revealed later this month to include more than 100 literary talents including authors, poets, student emerging writers, journalists, artists, chefs and thought-leaders. Partnering booksellers include Brave and Kind Bookshop, Charis Books and More, Eagle Eye Book Shop and Little Shop of Stories.
This year’s festival will also feature longtime Georgia lawmaker, New York Times bestselling author and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. Abrams will open Saturday’s events as the “Kidnote” speaker and share the third installment of her children’s book series, Stacey Speaks Up.
The Task Force for Global Health is celebrating 40 years of service through a sponsorship of the Decatur Book Festival, which will include an open house and family-friendly science activities during the day at their Decatur headquarters on Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Other sponsors include DeKalb County, Joe Barry Carroll Family Foundation, City of Decatur, City of Decatur Tourism Bureau, City of Decatur Development Authorities, Emory University, LuluMa Foundation, Rough Draft Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta Writers Club, DeKalb County Public Library, DeKalb Library Foundation, Georgia Center for the Book, First Baptist Church of Decatur, Georgia Humanities and Agnes Scott College.
For more information on the Decatur Book Festival, please visit decaturbookfestival.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @decaturbookfestival. For sponsorship or other inquiries, please contact Executive Director Leslie Wingate at leslie@decaturbookfestival.com.
About Decatur Book Festival
Founded in 2005, the Decatur Book Festival is an annual celebration of literature, igniting passion for reading and fostering community engagement. Showcasing renowned authors and nurturing emerging voices, the festival is a beacon of literary excellence, enriching minds and souls alike.