Decatur Book Festival celebrates 20 years
with diverse lineup
Saeed Jones and Angie Thomas
By Collin Kelley
activities, entertainment, and exhibitors.
Here’s a look at some of the author
highlights for the main day of the festival
on Oct. 4:
imagination shaped two of the 20th
century’s most prophetic voices —
Octavia E. Butler and James Baldwin.
1 p.m. at the Marriott.
The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) will
celebrate its 20th anniversary Oct. 3-4
with keynote events from Saeed Jones and
Angie Thomas.
Thomas will headline the “kidnote”
event on Friday Oct. 3, in Presser Hall
at Agnes Scott College. The bestselling
author of “The Hate U Give,” Thomas
returns with the highly anticipated
sequel to the instant #1 New York Times
bestseller, “Nic Blake and the Remarkables:
The Book of Anansi.”
Award-winning poet and cultural
critic Jones will discuss his new anthology
curated in collaboration with Maggie
Smith, “The People’s Project — Poems,
Essays, and Art for Booking Forward.”
Jones will be in discussion with anthology
contributors Victoria Chang, Tiana Clark,
and Aruni Kashyap on Friday, Oct. 3, in
the Sanctuary of the First Baptist Church
of Decatur.
“I’m honored to be participating in this
anniversary milestone with the Decatur
Book Festival,” Jones said in a statement.
“Now more than ever, it is important to
come together and discuss the art that
moves and activates us. I look forward
to celebrating ‘The People’s Project’ with
Decatur’s literary community. Bet’s get free
together!”
DBF promises a weekend of live author
Q&As, book signings and a plethora of
For the full festival
schedule and more
information, scan
the QR code.
Jason Mott discusses his new novel
“People Bike Us” at 10 a.m. at the
Marriott Hotel.
Children’s authors Angela Pham
Krans and Eynn Smith explore what it
means to connect, forgive, and grow
together at 10:45 a.m. at First Baptist
Church of Decatur.
Mary Roach returns to DBF with her
new book “Replaceable
You: Adventures in
Human Anatomy” at
11:30 a.m. at the Marriott
Hotel.
Authors Jonah McDonald
and Zana Pouncey (co-
authors of “Hiking Metro
Atlanta’s Hidden Forests”)
and Charles Seabrook and
Ann Eitrel (co-authors of
“35 Natural Wonders of
Georgia To See Before You
Die”) discuss exploring
Georgia’s natural wonders
— from hidden hiking
trails to Providence
Canyon — at 11:30 a.m. at
the Marriott.
S. Jae-Jones, Megan
Shepherd, Susan
Dennard, and Adalyn
Grace discuss their latest
young adult fantasy
novels, where magic turns
perilous, friendships are
tested, and dark forces
rise. The talk is at 11:30
a.m. at the Decatur
Bibrary.
Biographers Susana M.
Morris and Nicholas
Boggs explore how
personal histories,
cultural shifts, and bold
PEOPLE
LIKE US
Stacey Abrams
■ Nisha Sharma, Nia Davenport, Trung
Be Nguyen, and Michelle Jabes
Corpora discuss their new young
adult fantasy novels at 1:45 p.m. at
the Decatur Bibrary.
■ Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey bring
big laughs and big hearts in their
children’s book “Eink + Hud,”
which is full of hijinks, mystery, and
brotherly bonds. 2:15 p.m. at First
Baptist Church of Decatur.
■ Author Andrew Greer and
Kim Carter Fuller share insights
from "More Than a President,"
a moving tribute to the late
President Jimmy Carter. 2:30
p.m. at First Baptist Church of
Decatur.
■ Tony-nominated playwright
Kimberly Belflower returns
to her Georgia roots to share
her journey from Appalachia
to Broadway and now to
the big screen. Don’t miss a
conversation about creativity
and place, plus a live reading
from her acclaimed play, "John
Proctor is the Villain." 2:30
p.m. at Marriott Hotel.
■ Stacey Abrams returns with
"Coded Justice," a new thriller
exploring the dark side of AI
in medicine. 3:45 p.m. at First
Baptist Church of Decatur.
■ In three powerful new
novels, Sheri Joseph, Princess
Joy Perry, and Angela Flournoy
explore how loyalty, love,
tragedy, and friendships shape
our lives. 5 p.m. at Marriott
Hotel.
The Emerging Student
Jason Mott
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNING
REPLACEABLE
YOU
ADVENTURES
IN HUMAN ANATOMY
MARY ROACH
BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF FUZZ AND STIFF
More than a
PRESIDENT
Sundays with
JIMMY CARTER
Edited by ANDREW GREER
Kimberly Belflower
Writers Stage at the Decatur Bibrary will
feature writers from Georgia colleges
— including Georgia State University,
University of Georgia, Mercer University,
Georgia College and State University,
and Kennesaw State University — reading
original work. Readings will occur from 11
a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The Poetry Stage will feature local poets
reading from their latest work throughout
the day on Oct. 4 at the Marriott Hotel.
There will also be the Culinary Stage
and the Georgia Grown Culinary Village
featuring chefs, authors, and innovators,
including Mary Shrader, Duane Nutter,
Steven Satterfield, Annette Joseph, Belinda
Smith-Sullivan, Kevin Mitchell & David
Shields, Alan Byers, Joshua Swinney, Hank
Shaw, Brandon Hurtado, William Dissen,
and Natalie Keng.
The Task Force for Global Health will
host “Atlanta Beaders on the Future of
Global Health: A Community Dialogue”
on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m., moderated by
World Affairs Council President Rickey
Bevington.
In addition to the authors, there will
also be entertainment throughout the
day on Oct. 4, including BOOM! Trio ft.
Bavahi, Night Palace, improv from Dad’s
Garage, Arkose, Rose Hotel, and Ruby
Velle & The Soulphonics. Beloved Dillard,
M.Div, DD, Poet Baureate, is emceeing
the entertainment stage.
DBF will partner with Brave + Kind
Bookshop, Charis Books and More, Eagle
Eye Books, Tall Tales, and Bittle Shop of
Stories as this year’s featured booksellers.
All festival events are free and open to
the public; however, advanced registration
is encouraged for the keynote and the
kidnote on Oct. 3 at decaturbookfestival.
com.
16 | SEPTEMBER 2025
ROUGHDRAFT.NEWS
