This is more than a chance to meet bestselling writers. 

Each year, the festival brings readers together with authors representing a wide range of genres, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives, creating space for conversations that reflect the many different stories found within the community. That variety is part of what makes the festival feel so welcoming. 

You might spend one hour listening to a nationally known novelist and the next discovering a children’s author, poet, memoirist, or emerging voice you’ve never read before. By bringing those writers into the heart of downtown Winston-Salem, Bookmarks gives readers of all ages a chance to connect, learn from one another, and see more of themselves and their experiences represented in literature.

John Green in Conversation with Angie Thomas

Festival weekend begins Friday evening with #1 bestselling author John Green, whose novels include The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, and Turtles All the Way Down, and whose work has been translated into dozens of languages and adapted for film and television. Green is also known for his educational YouTube channel CrashCourse and his advocacy for global health initiatives. He will appear in conversation with Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, and will discuss Hollywood, Ending, his adult fiction debut, followed by a Q&A with pre-submitted audience questions. Tickets include a copy of the book. 

Jodi Picoult in Conversation with Virginia Evans 

On Sunday, the closing keynote will be with #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult, whose nearly 30 novels include My Sister’s Keeper, Mad Honey, Small Great Things, and By Any Other Name. Known for tackling complex social and ethical issues in her fiction, Picoult is also an outspoken advocate for intellectual freedom and the freedom to read. She will appear in conversation with Virginia Evans, author of The Correspondent, to discuss her newest novel, Hollow Bones, followed by a Q&A with pre-submitted audience questions. In addition to getting a copy of her book, attendees will also get a professional photo with Picoult.

The main festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. across several downtown venues, including the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Calvary Moravian Church, and the area around Bookmarks. Author panels happen indoors at these venues, while book signings and sales are concentrated in outdoor tents alongside exhibitors, vendors, and food trucks. 

Before you arrive, check the festival schedule and choose two or three author panels you don’t want to miss. From there, leave some flexibility in your day. 

Some of the best experiences can come from stumbling across a panel, author, or vendor you weren’t expecting,” says Festival Manager Sarah Blanton. 

As a rule of thumb, give yourself at least 15 to 20 minutes between sessions to walk to the next venue, use the restroom, or stop by the vendor tents without feeling rushed. 

Between panels, spend some time exploring the festival marketplace, where you can shop for books from participating authors, browse booths from local makers, and grab lunch from a food truck. If you’re hoping for a signature, check the festival map and arrive early for popular authors. Select signing lines require you to purchase the author’s featured book from Bookmarks. 

Families could easily build their day around the Kids Area, where National Geographic Kids is sponsoring a stage with a DJ, story times, games, and other interactive programming. Pick up a Kids’ Passport early so children have plenty of time to complete activities with exhibitors and turn it in for a free book, then stop by the Kids’ Signing Tent or hop aboard the festival train sponsored by PBS North Carolina. 

Need a break between sessions? You’ll be within a block or two of plenty of downtown stops, including NCMA Downtown, Design Archives, and Footnotes Coffee & Cocktails. If you’d rather skip the food trucks at the festival, Foothills Brewpub serves a full menu, Young Cardinal Cafe is a popular brunch option if you don’t mind a possible wait, and Chill Nitro Creamery makes ice cream to order with liquid nitrogen.

Sarah Dessen 

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen has sold millions of copies of her young adult novels, including The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, and This Lullaby. Her newest book, Change of Plans, is her first novel in seven years and follows a teen navigating love, family, and a life-changing summer. 

Tiffany D. Jackson 

Bestselling and award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson is known for young adult novels like Allegedly, Monday’s Not Coming, and The Weight of Blood. Her latest book, Ghost in the Night, takes younger readers to Savannah, Georgia, for a mystery involving ghost stories, an unsolved disappearance, and a photo that may reveal more than expected. 

Meg Medina 

Meg Medina is a Newbery Medal winner and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature whose books span picture books, middle-grade novels, and young adult fiction. Her featured novel, Graciela in the Abyss, is her first middle-grade fantasy and follows a young sea ghost in an underwater adventure inspired by Latin American folklore. 

Ayad Akhtar 

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist Ayad Akhtar is known for works including Disgraced and Homeland Elegies, which was named one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2020. His upcoming novel, The Radiance, begins with a mysterious hit-and-run and explores identity, faith, academia, and the fractures of modern American life. To enter Akhtar’s signing line, you must purchase the book. 

Kristy Woodson Harvey 

North Carolina author Kristy Woodson Harvey is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for Southern fiction and her popular Peachtree Bluff series. She returns to that coastal community in Falling for Peachtree Bluff, which reunites the Murphy family as new romances, family problems, and a scandal shake up their small town. 

This is a small selection of featured authors this year. You can find the full list here.

With keynote events on Friday and Sunday, the Bookmarks Festival gives you a built-in reason to spend the full weekend in Winston-Salem. Here are a few suggestions for how to spend your time outside the festival. 

• Keep the Literary Theme Going - Browse more local bookstores while you’re in town, including The Bookhouse in Reynolda Village and Book Ferret. McKay’s is another favorite for hunting through shelves of used books, records, games, and collectibles. 
• Explore Winston-Salem’s Art Scene - Walk through the Downtown Arts District, browse local galleries and boutiques, or search for murals and other public art. The North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem also has a downtown exhibition space nearby. 
• Step Into Local History - Visit Old Salem Museums & Gardens on Friday before the opening keynote or Saturday if you don’t mind missing some of the festival events. You can tour historic buildings, meet costumed interpreters, and learn about the Moravian community that helped shape Winston-Salem. For a quicker bite of Moravian history, head out for a self-guided tour of Historic Bethabara Park.
• Enjoy a Book and a Glass of Wine - September weather is made for lingering on a winery patio with a new book. Winston-Salem sits within 45 minutes of 45 wineries in the surrounding Yadkin Valley, giving you plenty of options for a relaxed Sunday afternoon before or after the closing keynote. Another option is Little Pep, a wine bar downtown.
• Stay Somewhere with a Story - Make the weekend more memorable by choosing one of Winston-Salem’s unique places to stay. Graylyn Estate will make you believe you’ve been transported to a European castle, while the Historic Brookstown Inn is located in a restored 19th-century cotton mill. Have an Art Deco weekend with all the glamour of a party on the West Egg at the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, located in the restored RJ Reynolds Building.

Find more information about the festival, including schedule updates, featured authors, and keynote speakers on the Bookmarks website.

For real-time updates, make sure you are following their dedicated festival Instagram page or the Bookmarks Facebook page.

Making a weekend of it? Plan Your Visit here and search for hotel options, dining spots, and ideas to make the most of your time in town. Download our Visitor Guide and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with all things Winston-Salem!