Louis Sachar / Courtesy photo
The fourth annual True Lit literary festival is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 27 in Fayetteville.
The event features author talks, writing workshops, pitch sessions, art displays, and more.
The keynote speaker for this year’s festival is Louis Sachar, who has been writing books for children and young adults for nearly 40 years. Sachar is best known for his award-winning novel Holes, which was adapted into a 2003 film of the same name. He is also the author of both the Sideways Stories From Wayside School and the Marvin Redpost series
Sachar will give a public talk at the Fayetteville Public Library at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26. In addition to the public talk, Sachar will also teach writing workshops and speak to students at Fayetteville Public Schools as part of the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation’s Jim Blair Author and Lecture Series and Young Authors Series.
Also, the University of Arkansas’ creative writing and translation program will host acclaimed poet Claudia Rankine as its 2016 Distinguished Reader during the festival. Rankine has authored five collections of poetry, two plays, and numerous video collaborations, in addition to editing several anthologies. Rankine’s reading takes place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the library.
Fayetteville Public Library will host a day for local writers to hone their craft and meet with industry professionals on Saturday, Oct. 22. Throughout the day, writers will have the chance to interact directly with book and magazine publishers. Panel discussions will help writers determine what magazine and book publishers look for in submissions, and writers will have the opportunity to sign up for pitch sessions to present ideas directly to magazine and book publishers. Participants can sign up for pitch sessions the morning of the event. A complete list of guidelines is available at truelitfest.com/publishers.
Saturday will also feature various youth events including a picture book presentation with Darcy Pattison and a teen graphic novels class with Cole Closser. Youth writing workshops are also scheduled throughout the festival.
For registration information and a complete schedule of events, visit truelitfest.com.
