Please join us August 25th for an exciting preview event for the Fox Cities Book Festival.
 
We are gearing up for another successful Book Fest and would like to give you a sneak peak of what is to come in 2011.  Join us for a Preview Night on Wednesday, August 25, featuring author Kao Kalia Yang. 
 
In addition to Yang's presentation, we will be releasing the names of a few of the authors who are scheduled to attend the 2011 Festival.  Apple Blossom Books will be at the event selling books by Yang and the other announced Festival authors! 
 
More details can be found below. We look forward to seeing you at the Fox Cities Book Festival Preview Night!
 
Jeff Kuepper, Fox Cities Book Festival President
and the entire Book Festival Committee

Event Details 
 
What: FC Book Festival Preview Night
Where: The History Museum at the Castle (Ogilvie Hall)
           330 East College Avenue Appleton, WI 54911
When: Wednesday, August 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Parking: Off-street parking is available in the History Museum, North Shore Bank and All Saint Episcopal Church parking lots
 
Event will include:

• Presentation and book signing from author Kao Kalia Yang
• Announcement of the 2011 Book Festival Honorary Chairs 
• A preview of some of the authors scheduled to appear at the Festival in April
• Apple Blossom Books will be on site selling Kao Kalia Yang's books and those of the 2011 Book Festival authors

 
While this event is free and open to the public, seating is limited so please let us know if you are planning to attend.  Let us know you are coming to the Preview Event!
 
All book lovers are welcome!

Kao Kalia Yang

Kao Kalia Yang is the author of The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir and one of the first Hmong writers with a national distribution by a literary press.  Her work has appeared in the Paj Ntaub Voice Hmong Literary Journal and numerous other publications. Another one of her well known works is the lyric documentary, The Place Where We Were Born.
 
Impressions
 
"We had the opportunity to hear Kao Kalia Yang speak as a part of the Book Festival last spring. While we had not read The Latehomecomer prior to hearing her speak, just hearing short excerpts from the book and  her command of the language to paint vivid images inspired us to want to read her family's story. We were not disappointed. She has the power to enrich people both professionally and personally." 
 
Lee & Amy Allinger
Fox Cities Book Festival
2010 Honorary Co-Chairs

Apply now to participate in the 2011 Fox Cities Book Festival!

To be considered for a session slot you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have a book that is currently in print, or poems or articles published in a juried journal or periodical.
• The genre of your published work must meet the needs and balance of the Festival offerings.
• The genre of your published work must meet the needs and balance of the Festival offerings.
• The published work must have an interest and appeal to a reader niche in our communities.
• The application below must be completed and sent with a review copy of your published work by October 1, 2010 to:
  Judy Owen
  Author Selection Committee
  c/o Appleton West High School
  610 North Badger Ave,
  Appleton, WI 54914

Author Application Form (pdf)

We've had another successful year with the Fox Cities Book Festival!  Our 62 public events attracted over 5,200 book lovers from around the Midwest.  When combined with the students who participated in local Book Festival school activities, the 2010 Festival had a total of more than 15,000 in attendance.  It was an eventful Book Fest, to say the least!
 
First and foremost, thank you for your support!  Below you will find wonderful pictures, testimonials, news coverage links, and more.  We look forward to another great Book Festival in 2011!
 
Barbara Wentzel, FC Book Festival President
Lee & Amy Allinger, Honorary Co-Chairs,
and the entire Book Festival Committee

Words From Honorary Co-Chairs
Lee & Amy Allinger
 
"We were very impressed with the level of commitment by all of the members of the Fox Cities Book Festival Committee. Organizing an event for multiple artists, days, and venues on top of fundraising for the event is no small task. Committee members have our admiration and appreciation for bringing this incredible event to life in the Fox Cities.
 
The authors we saw were riveting with their presentation skills. Hearing how they approach writing, the background behind a story, and their evolution as writers was fascinating. As a result of these presentations, we have both added multiple new books to our must-read lists.
 
From the perspective of our students and staff in the Appleton Area School District, we have heard countless stories about author presentations in our schools. The authors brought the writing process and their stories to life for our students. At the community presentations we attended, it was great to see our students sitting alongside adults; seeing a diverse group of all generations enjoying an author presentation sent such a strong message. Literacy is an enjoyable, lifelong tool for learning."
 
Lee & Amy Allinger
Fox Cities Book Festival
2010 Honorary Co-Chairs

Testimonials
 
"This was my first Book Festival and I have to say I was blown away!  There were so many authors, events and activities to choose from over the eight-day span.  Choosing what to attend was a great challenge to have!"  - Leah Van Rooy
 
"I loved Laurie Notaro! She was so funny and had such a zest for life. The entire audience was hanging on her every word!"
 
"...we went to hear Lesley Kagen at Appleton Library this afternoon. She was really fantastic, enthusiastic and totally hilarious. Her talk is like listening to a stand-up comedy routine sprinkled with several writing and publishing insights and personal anecdotes."
 
"I heard Chris Crutcher speak about banned books and censorship on Monday, and it was fantastic. He sat in front of the room and shared some fascinating experiences that led to his stories and how they have been received by the world. It was like sitting in your living room with a favorite friend, hanging out, and talking about what's important to you. Wonderful session!"

Lesley Kagen included Samson the gorilla in her Milwaukee-set book, Whistling in the Dark. In this video clip, she talks about Samson and his iconic stature in Milwaukee and greater Wisconsin.

Did you miss James Campbell at the Festival? Never fear! Check out some video clips of his presentation.

If you missed Kao Kalia Yang's presentations this week or if you want to revisit her inspiring words, video clips are available at http://www.youtube.com/user/kimlitlibrary.

Wondering about events taking place during the Festival? Take a look at these Post-Crescent features and catch up on what's been going on.

• Hmong author Kao Kalia Yang finds her voice
• Author John Eisenberg explains how Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi transformed team

We hope you're enjoying this year's Festival!

Chris Crutcher gave a fantastic presentation last night at the Appleton Public Library before a crowd of 134 people. Read all about it at http://newcybrary.blogspot.com/!

What's your favorite Book Festival experience so far? Getting to meet an author whose works you love? Participating in a great discussion about books? Helping out as a volunteer at an event? Share your Fox Cities Book Festival favorite moments in the comments. We'd love to hear from you!

The 3rd annual Fox Cities Book Festival begins today! Start the week out right by attending one of our first events.

Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter will be at the Appleton Public Library this afternoon at 2:00 PM. She will present "Invention and Intention: The Intuitive and the Analytical in the Art of Writing."

Or join young adult author, Gennifer Choldenko, at the Neenah Public Library at 2:00 PM where she will discuss the making of her award-winning book, Al Capone Does My Shirts.

There's something for everyone at the Fox Cities Book Festival. Join us!