Lit Fest to bring Middle Ga. book lovers, authors together

The Middle Georgia Lit Fest is just days away, so mark your calendar for the Feb. 7 event that brings book lovers together with indie authors, publishing experts, editors, designers, illustrators, story coaches and others. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse, meet writers, get books autographed and attend workshops and activities for both authors and readers young and old.

Organizers say the event will be almost double the size compared to last year, with about 130 authors plus dozens more publishing and arts‑related vendors attending.

Admission and parking are free, as are all the day’s activities. Food trucks will be on hand, too, allowing patrons to purchase snacks and meals.

Victoria Hawkins of Between Friends Publishing, one of the event’s host organizations, said the festival’s popularity is growing among the public as well as among indie authors.

“Last year, there were about 80 authors and vendors; this year, we could have had 200, but we limited it because we want to do a good job of managing our growth,” she said.

A look at Lit Fest

Hawkins said growth is happening in several ways, not just in the number of authors wanting to be a part of Lit Fest. 

Here’s a glimpse into the various festival happenings:

— This year, the festival will offer even more workshops than last year. These include 16 confirmed sessions on topics like telling a good story, the psychological impact of storytelling on readers, as well as poetry and various aspects of creating a book from concept to writing to design and marketing.

“Sessions cover pretty much everything from A to Z, and they’re not just of interest to writers,” Hawkins said. “Artists and creatives of all types can benefit.”

— There will be several podcasts originating from the festival using the facility’s new InnoLab, a wide‑ranging, community‑based digital innovation hub and workspace.

— Georgia Public Broadcasting and Public Broadcasting Service Kids will be involved in several activities. Besides offering information about GPB and PBS resources for kids and families, they will provide a PBS Kids Writers Contest workshop to guide kindergartners through third graders in preparing stories for this year’s contest.

“We’re excited about growing a partnership with GPB and PBS,” Hawkins said. “Within the InnoLab, they’ll have the GPB Gasha Go! interactive, tablet‑based storybuilder game for kids that teaches story development.”

— And of course, there will be books and book‑related items to buy, authors to meet, conversations to have and memories to make. While the event offers all manner of story genres from all kinds of authors, Hawkins said the best‑selling genre is children’s literature.

The festival’s origins

The festival was begun by Hawkins and Jamie Miller in 2017. The two own and operate Between Friends Coffee, a literary‑themed coffee shop café located in Warner Robins at 1080 Ga. 96. A literary festival — though smaller then — was a natural extension of their shop. In the following years, it grew despite having to take time out due to the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Also in the following year, the two created Between Friends Publishing, which offers publishing services to indie authors. Miller is a writer and editor. Hawkins is an artist and graphic designer. Similar to their cafe endeavor, the two blended their skills together, once again, to help clients create books.

Last year, the city of Warner Robins became an event sponsor, and the festival moved to the new, spacious North Houston Sports Complex.

“The Middle Georgia Lit Fest reflects Warner Robins’ commitment to literacy, creativity and community engagement,” said Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick. “We’re proud to host this event and welcome families, students and readers of all ages to celebrate literacy and the power of storytelling in our city.”

Patrick has said the festival fits well within her Literacy Legends Initiative, an effort to foster literacy and a love of reading in Warner Robins and beyond.

From a writer’s perspective

R.C. Qualls is a local writer living in Bonaire and has been a frequent participant in regional book fairs, writers’ conferences and similar events. A Georgia native, the Air Force brought him to Middle Georgia, and he now works at Robins Air Force Base and writes on weekends. Qualls recently earned a Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing at Middle Georgia State University. He writes science fiction and is currently working on two novels.

“The Middle Georgia Lit Fest is one of the best I’ve been to, and I’ve been to quite a few,” he said. “I was recently at one in Snellville and sold only two books. Last year, at the festival here, I almost sold out. I even had someone come from Lawrenceville to get one of my books and have it signed. Having a festival anywhere to support indie writers is great, but to have this here is really wonderful.”

Qualls said there’s also value in the camaraderie of writers and publishing professionals getting together. Tips are traded and at times craft problems are worked out.

And he clearly believes there’s value for those who come to browse the Lit Fest.

“People should come check out the local writers and the international writers who come. You never know who you might run into or what you might be inspired to do yourself,” he said. “I don’t think people realize how many writers there are in the area. Of course, dedicated readers come and families come because it’s a great place for children’s books, but even if you just come out of curiosity, I think you might be surprised and find something you like. And you might even get it signed by the author.”

The Lit Fest is on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Warner Robins’ North Houston Sports Complex, 900 North Houston Road. For more information, visit middlegalitfest.com.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at @michael_w_pannell.