Montclair Literary Festival Will Feature More Than 60 Authors Across 10 Days in May

The Montclair Literary Festival will bring more than 60 authors in over 30 events from May 2 to 11 for its 10th anniversary celebration. Most events won’t cost attendees anything.

The festival opens Saturday, May 2, in downtown Montclair with the Poetry Cafe. Coffee and bagels are included. Opening day will have Eugene Robinson, John Fugelsang, Colm Tóibín, Tom Perrotta, and Joyce Carol Oates in sessions that cover debut fiction and biographies about music icons.

“We’re thrilled to launch our 10th anniversary festival with such a spectacular lineup,” said Festival Chair Marcia Marley, according to Montclair Local. “I am particularly looking forward to hearing Eugene Robinson and John Fugelsang discuss how their family histories reflect and are relevant to the present political landscape.”

Kathryn Stockett wrote The Help. She will celebrate the launch of her new novel, The Calamity Club, on May 5. Adriana Trigiani will appear on May 6 for the paperback release of The View from Lake Como.

Pitchapalooza happens May 7. Aspiring writers get the chance to pitch their work for possible introduction to a literary agent or publisher. All events on Saturday, May 9, will take place at Montclair State University with free parking at the Red Hawk parking deck.

Maria Semple, bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette,” will discuss her new novel, Go Gentle, on May 9. Pulitzer Prize-finalist Xochitl Gonzalez will talk about her book, Last Night in Brooklyn, the same day.

Other programming includes Francine Prose’s new novel about Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen. Food writers Luke Barr and Sylvie Bigar will discuss French cooking. Memoirists Siri Hustvedt and Rachel Eliza Griffiths talk in conversation on love and grief. New Yorker writer Anand Gopal will share his account of six Syrians who fought tyranny.

Montclair State University will host Express Yourself! on May 9, offering free hands-on workshops in writing, visual art, music, dance, photography, and theater. The festival wraps up Monday, May 11, with Christina Baker Kline in conversation with Alice Elliott Dark for the early release of The Foursome.

“In this, our 10th year of literary programming, we’re proud to offer festival goers the opportunity to explore a wide range of books, ideas, and voices over the upcoming 10 days in May,” Marley added.

Montclair State University, Watchung Booksellers, and the Montclair Public Library support the event. Tickets and the full event schedule are available at succeed2gether.org/mlf26. Printed festival guides are available at Watchung Booksellers and venues.

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