Wheaton Library sponsors Local Author Fest

More than 30 authors from across the area will meet with fans and sign and sell their books at Wheaton Public Library's inaugural Local Author Fest.

The celebration will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the library, 225 N. Cross St.

The fest will feature authors who have written fiction and nonfiction for children, young adults and adults. Adult and young adult authors will have tables on the main floor while children's authors will have tables on the library's lower level. The main floor also will feature tables by Prairie Path Books, Sourcebooks and Tortoise Books.

In addition, the event will feature two panel discussions. The first, at 1:30 p.m., will feature local authors Carmela Martino, Stacey Previn, Tom Montgomery Fate and Julia Buckley. The second, at 3 p.m., will feature literary professionals Todd Stocke, editor at Sourcebooks; Jerry Brennan, editor of Tortoise Books; and former PR executive and author Rita Dragonette.

Children's author Patricia Toht will lead a storytime of her book at 2 p.m. in the newly renovated Storyhouse Marsh on the library's lower level. At 2:30 p.m., children's author Tayyaba Syed will present a story time and puppet show based on her book.

There will be open mic readings at 1 p.m. in the newly renovated cafe space on the main floor near Café on the Park featuring writers of Wheaton College's Kodon and College of DuPage's Prairie Light Review, as well as some of the local authors.

There also will be hands-on activities on the main floor and lower level as well as raffle prize drawings for some of the local authors' books. For a full list of participating authors, booksellers and events, visit wheatonlibrary.org.