For more information:

Amy Lage
Festival Coordinator
Phone: 402-472-2759
Email

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 Nebraska Book Awards

2019  Nebraska Book Festival

More details about presenters are forthcoming. Keep up with the Festival on Facebook at Nebraska Book Festival Event page.

Nicole Baart Headshot Kwame Dawes headshot Ted Genoways Headshot Tosca Lee Headshot Kassandra Montang Headshot Kimberly Stuart Headshot Carson Vaughan Headshot
 

Philosophy

The festival is held to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors and to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. By gathering together contemporary writing talent of our state and surrounding areas, the festival provides an opportunity for participants to cultivate an understanding of our history, culture and community.

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Meet the Authors

Nicole Baart Headshot Kwame Dawes Headshot Ted Genoways Headshot
Nicole Baart Kwame Dawes Ted Genoways
Tosca Lee Headshot Kassandra Montag Headshot Kimberly Stuart Headshot
Tosca Lee Kassandra Montag Kimberly Stuart
Carson Vaughan Headshot
Carson Vaughan

Program Schedule

Updated as of July 11, 2019, the schedule of programing is open to change.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH - BOOKWALK - Zipline Brewing Co. (2100 Magnum Circle)

TBD - Show your completed bookmark to receive happy hour pricing (beer or rootbeer), stay for a casual trivia contest, peruse the new Zipline Pub. Library, and enter to win more book-related prizes!


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH - 2019 FEATURED AUTHORS - UNL CITY CAMPUS UNION

11:00 a.m.- Noon - Kassandra Montag -- Novelist, poet, and essayist Kassandra Montag will be in conversation with Tessa Terry about her debut novel, After the Flood. The interview will cover the inspiration behind the book, her writing process, books and films that influenced her, and the process of her novel being optioned for a television series. A reading and Q & A will follow the interview.

1:00-2:30 p.m. - Tosca Lee, Kimberly Stewart, & Nicole Baart - The Traveling Pens -- Traveling Pens Nicole Baart, Tosca Lee and Kimberly Stuart are authors, speakers, businesswomen, and dear friends. They are also proud to be Midwest girls, through and through. With over thirty years of combined publishing experience in multiple genres, they are passionate about both the craft and business of writing. They are also passionate about the power of joining forces within a difficult industry. The authors will share their experiences in writing, publishing, and connecting with readers.

3:00-4:00 p.m. - Kwame Dawes -- Poet, essayist, editor and novelist Kwame Dawes will read from his most recent work and discuss themes and ideas that are recurring in his most recent works of prose and poetry.

4:30-6:00 p.m. - Carson Vaughan & Ted Genoways -- Following the 2016 presidential election, national media refocused—however briefly—on middle America. Freelance journalists Ted Genoways and Carson Vaughan, both writing from and about Nebraska and the Great Plains long before the national narrative recalibrated, analyze their latest works to discuss the opportunities and challenges of reporting from the middle with Pat Leach.


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH - NEBRASKA CHILDREN'S BOOK PARTY - EISELEY BRANCH LIBRARY

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Featured speaker: Award-winning children's book author, Janice Harrington. She will present "Storytelling!" at 10:30 a.m. and "Writing!" at 11:30 a.m. Throughout the event there will be hands-on activities for ages K-3 including Book Bingo, book sales and treats

History

The 2018 Nebraska Book Festival marked the 25th annual book festival dating back to 1991. Historically, the Nebraska Book Festival has offered high-quality speakers, presenters, moderators, and workshop facilitators.

The Nebraska Book Festival (formerly the Nebraska Literature Festival 1991-2001) has been co-sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Humanities Nebraska (formerly Nebraska Humanities Council) since its inception in 1991. The Nebraska Library Commission and many other organizations and individuals have contributed to the festivals over the years.

The change of name from Nebraska Literature Festival to Nebraska Book Festival broadens the scope of the event to include contemporary Nebraska writers and books, as well as the great classic writers of Nebraska’s literary heritage. The festival is dedicated to Nebraska writers and Nebraska books. It celebrates the reading and writing life of the Great Plains.

Festivals

Click on a year for event details, photos, festival programs, and more.

    2018 August 25, UNL City Campus Union, Lincoln
    2017 July 15, Union Plaza, Lincoln
    2016 No festival held in this year
    2015 April 25, UNO Community Engagement Center, Omaha
    2014 April 25-26, UNO Thompson Alumni Center, Omaha
    2013 April 5-6, UNO Thompson Alumni Center, Omaha
    2012 March 31, Downtown Lincoln
    2011 May 21, Downtown Lincoln
    2010 No festival held in this year
    2009 November 14, Downtown Lincoln
    2008 October 17-18, Downtown Lincoln
    2007 October 26-28, Downtown Lincoln
    2006 October 6-7, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
    2005 October 7-8, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
    2004 September 17-18, University of Nebraska at Kearney
    2003 October 24-25, Creighton University, Omaha
    2002 September 13-14, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Grand Island
    2001 September 21-22, Peru State College, Peru
    2000 September 15-17, Beatrice & Lincoln
    1999 September 17-18, Chadron State College, Chadron
    1998 September 17-19, Wayne State College, Wayne
    1997 No festival was held in this year
    1996 September 20-21, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    1995 September 22-23, University of Nebraska at Kearney
    1994 September 22-24, University of Nebraska at Omaha
    1993 September 17-18, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    1992 September 25-26, University of Nebraska at Kearney
    1991 September 28, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Sponsors

MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORTING SPONSOR KEY SPONSOR
Lincoln Journal Star
KFOR
10/11
Nebraska Center for the Book
Nebraska Library Commission
University of Nebraska Press
Lincoln City Libraries
Pixel Bakery + Kate Fielder
Friends of the University of Nebraska Press
Union Bank

Facebook

Keep up with the Festival at https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaBookFestival.