A Celebration of Books,
Writers & LIterary Excellence

Save the Date


Gaithersburg
Book Festival

May 16, 2026

10am – 6pm

Bohrer Park


Genre: Fiction

Sarah Adler

Featured Title: Finders Keepers

USA Today best-selling author Sarah Adler writes romantic comedies about lovable weirdos finding their happily ever afters. She lives in Frederick, Md., with her husband, daughter, and a very mischievous cat named Noodle. When she’s not reading or writing, you… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 2:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 3:15 pm

Rabih Alameddine

Featured Title: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)

Rabih Alameddine is the author of the novels “Angel of History;” “An Unnecessary Woman;” “The Hakawati;” “I, the Divine;” “Koolaids;” the story collection, “The Perv;” and one work of nonfiction, “Comforting Myths.” He was a finalist for the 2014 National… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 12:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 1:15 pm

Moderator

Samuel Ashworth

Featured Title: The Death and Life of August Sweeney

Samuel Ashworth has been a bartender, a dancer, and a reporter. To write his debut novel, “The Death and Life of August Sweeney” (2025), he gutted seafood in the back of Michelin-starred restaurants and assisted with autopsies in a Pittsburgh… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 2:15 pm

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 3:15 pm

Moderator

Louis Bayard

Featured Title: The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts

In the words of The New York Times, Louis Bayard “reinvigorates historical fiction,” rendering the past “as if he’d witnessed it firsthand.” His acclaimed novels include “The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts;” “The Pale Blue Eye,” adapted into the global… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 3:15 pm

Venue: Rachel Carson Pavilion

Signing: 4:15 pm

Madeline Bell

Featured Title: The Austen Affair

Madeline Bell grew up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia University. Writing as Christine Calella, she is the author of two YA novels, “The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray” and “Liar’s Kingdom.” Like any… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 4:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 5:15 pm

Moderator

Andie Burke

Featured Title: With Stars in Her Eyes

Andie Burke is the USA Today best-selling author of “With Stars in Her Eyes,” “Fall for Him,” and “Fly with Me.” She lives in Maryland with her partner and two kids and also works as a pediatric radiology nurse. Andie… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 2:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 3:15 pm

Chanel Cleeton

Featured Title: The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes

Chanel Cleeton is The New York Times best-selling author of 20 books, including Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick “Next Year in Havana.” Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the Cuban Revolution.… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 4:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 5:15 pm

Susan Coll

Featured Title: The Literati

“The Literati” is Susan Coll’s eighth novel. Her previous works include the USA Today best-selling “Real Life and Other Fictions,” “Bookish People,” and “The Stager,” a New York Times and Chicago Tribune Editor’s Choice. Her novel, “Acceptance,” was made into… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 4:15 pm

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 5:15 pm

Sara Goodman Confino

Featured Title: Good Grief

Sara Goodman Confino is the best-selling author of six novels: “Don’t Forget to Write,” “Good Grief,” “Behind Every Good Man,” “She’s Up to No Good,” “For the Love of Friends,” and the upcoming “Off the Record.” After spending more years… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 12:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 1:15 pm

Stephanie Cowell

Featured Title: The Man in the Stone Cottage

Stephanie Cowell has been an opera singer, balladeer, founder of Strawberry Opera and other arts venues including a Renaissance festival in NYC. She is the author of “Nicholas Cooke,” “The Physician of London,” “The Players: A Novel of the young… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 4:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 5:15 pm

Stephanie Dray

Featured Title: A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author of historical fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into many languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 10:15 am

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 11:15 am

Lacey N. Dunham

Featured Title: The Belles

Lacey N. Dunham’s novel “The Belles” (2025) was named a Best Book of 2025 by Library Journal and Crime Reads. A Poets & Writers Magazine 2025 Writer to Watch, Lacey has received writing fellowships from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 10:15 am

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 11:15 am

Gretchen Powell Fox

Featured Title: Smoke and Scar

Gretchen Powell Fox is the award-winning author of “Smoke and Scar” and “Splintered Kingdom,” the first two books in the epic romantic fantasy trilogy, “Shattered Crown.” Initially self-published, the series has earned numerous accolades, including a Best of #BookTok designation… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 1:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 2:15 pm

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel

Featured Title: Enormous Wings

Laurie Frankel is The New York Times best-selling, award-winning author of the novels “Family Family,” “One Two Three,” “Goodbye for Now,” “The Atlas of Love,” and the Reese’s Book Club Pick, “This Is How It Always Is.” Laurie lives in… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 2:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 3:15 pm

Ayana Gray

Featured Title: I, Medusa

Ayana Gray is a New York Times, USA Today, and Indie best-selling author. Her works have been translated into a dozen languages across five continents, and have received critical recognition at the state and national level. She has been featured… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 3:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 4:15 pm

Moderator

Lindsay Hameroff

Featured Title: Never Planned on You

Lindsay Hameroff is a writer, humorist, and former English teacher raised in Baltimore, Md., and based in Harrisburg, Pa. Her writing has been featured in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Weekly Humorist, and fan letters to Harry Styles. She is the author… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 12:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 1:15 pm

Christina Henry

Featured Title: The Place Where They Buried Your Heart

Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author of 19 novels. Her most recent work is “The Place Where They Buried Your Heart.” Her short stories have been featured in several anthologies, including “HOWL: An Anthology of Werewolves from… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 10:15 am

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 11:15 am

Kate Hilton

Featured Title: City of the Muse

Kate Hilton is a best-selling Canadian writer. Her fiction includes “City of the Muse,” “The Hole in the Middle,” “Just Like Family,” and “Better Luck Next Time.” She is also the co-author, with Elizabeth Renzetti, of the Quill & Packet… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 1:15 pm

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 2:15 pm

Audrey Ingram

Featured Title: The Summer We Ran

Audrey Ingram is the author of “A River Runs South” and “The Group Trip.” She is a graduate of Middlebury College and Georgetown University Law Center, and practiced law in Washington, D.C., for 15 years. When not writing, she can… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 2:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 3:15 pm

Loot by Tania James
Moderator

Tania James

Featured Title: Loot

Tania James is the author of four works of fiction, most recently the novel “Loot,” which was longlisted for 2023 National Book Award and the Carol Shields Prize. Her short stories have appeared in Freeman’s, Granta, The New Yorker, O… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 12:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 1:15 pm

Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson

Featured Title: Keeper of Lost Children

Sadeqa Johnson is a New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her most recent novel, “The House of Eve,” was an instant New York Times best-seller, Reese’s Book Club selection, Target Book Club pick, nominated for a NAACP Image… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 11:15 am

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 12:15 pm

Sheri Joseph

Featured Title: Angels at the Gate

Sheri Joseph’s novel, “Angels at the Gate,” has just been published. Her previous books are the novels “Where You Can Find Me” and “Stray,” and a cycle of stories, “Bear Me Safely Over.” Her short fiction has appeared in numerous… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 10:15 am

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 11:15 am

Alma Katsu

Featured Title: Fiend

Alma Katsu is The New York Times best-selling author of nine novels, including “The Hunger” (“supernatural suspense at its finest”-New York Times) and, most recently, “The Fervor” (“a feat of pure storytelling”- New York Times). Her books have won or… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 10:15 am

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 11:15 am

Sharon Kurtzman

Featured Title: The Lost Baker of Vienna

Sharon Kurtzman worked in television marketing before pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. She earned her M.F.A. in fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. “The Lost… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 4:15 pm

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 5:15 pm

Jenn Lyons

Featured Title: Green & Deadly Things

Twice-nominated Astounding Award finalist Jenn Lyons lives in Atlanta, with her husband, a rebellious cait sìth, and a nearly infinite number of opinions on everything from Sumerian mythology to the proper way to make a martini. After 30 years as… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 1:15 pm

Venue: F. Scott Fitzgerald Pavilion

Signing: 2:15 pm

Michelle Maryk

Featured Title: The Found Object Society

Michelle Maryk graduated from Cornell University and also attended the Yale Writer’s Workshop. She has been a full-time voiceover artist, as well as a commercial and comedic actor, for over 25 years. “The Found Object Society” is a novel of… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 12:15 pm

Venue: Rachel Carson Pavilion

Signing: 1:15 pm

Jason Mott

Featured Title: People Like Us

Best-selling author Jason Mott has a B.F.A. in Fiction and an M.F.A. in Poetry, both from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He is the author of two poetry collections and five novels. Jason’s fourth novel, “Hell Of A… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 1:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 2:15 pm

Matthew Norman

Featured Title: Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon

Matthew Norman lives in Baltimore with his wife and two children. His latest novel, “Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon,” is out now. His previous novels include “Charm City Rocks,” “All Together Now,” “Last Couple Standing,” “We’re All Damaged,” and… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 12:15 pm

Venue: Gertrude Stein Pavilion

Signing: 1:15 pm

George Packer

Featured Title: The Emergency

George Packer is an award-winning author and a staff writer at The Atlantic. He has written many books, including “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America” (winner of the National Book Award) and, most recently, “Last Best Hope:… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 2:15 pm

Venue: Dashiell Hammett Pavilion

Signing: 3:15 pm

Boy from the North Country by Sam Sussman

Sam Sussman

Featured Title: Boy from the North Country

Sam Sussman grew up in the Hudson Valley. He graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Oxford and has lived in Berlin and Jerusalem. His writing has been recognized by BAFTA… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 11:15 am

Venue: Rachel Carson Pavilion

Signing: 12:15 pm

Milo Todd

Featured Title: The Lilac People

Milo Todd is a Massachusetts Cultural Council grantee and a Lambda Literary Fellow. His work has appeared in Slice Magazine and elsewhere. He is co-editor in chief of Foglifter and teaches creative writing to queer and trans adults. Milo will… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 3:15 pm

Venue: Rachel Carson Pavilion

Signing: 4:15 pm

Jung Yun

Featured Title: All the World Can Hold

Jung Yun was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Fargo, N.D. She received her M.F.A. in English and Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the author of “O Beautiful,” which was a New… Continue Reading

Author Schedule:

Speaking: 11:15 am

Venue: Rachel Carson Pavilion

Signing: 12:15 pm