2026 Williamsburg Book Festival

Get ready for the 2026 Williamsburg Book Festival, an in-person celebration of stories, authors, and good vibes!

About this Event


Get Ready for the 2026 Williamsburg Book Festival!

Join us in person for an awesome day celebrating all things books! Whether you're a hardcore reader, a casual page-turner, or just looking for some fun, the 2026 Williamsburg Book Festival has got you covered. Meet 75 authors, discover new reads, and soak in the vibrant literary vibes. Want to write your own book, talk to two publishers who will be on hand. Bring your friends, your family, and your love for stories—this is one event you don’t want to miss!

Agenda


🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Making the Unseen, Seen

Info: Introduction by PSV President, Dr. Kathleen P. Decker, Editor-in-Chief, & assorted contributors "Making the Unseen, Seen” reading.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Stitching a Wild Story: How The Age of Deer Was Made
Host: Erika Howsare

Info: Follow the tracks from field notes to finished pages. In this image‑rich, behind‑the‑scenes talk, Erika Howsare shows how she braided science, history, Indigenous knowledge, and hunting culture into a living narrative. From tools and maps to serendipity in Central Virginia, she makes big‑idea nonfiction feel close and human.

🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Virginia Poet Laureate Panel
Host: Mattie Quessenberry Smith

Info: Dr. Mattie Q. Smith, Prof. Henry Hart, Dr. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Ron Smith, Dr. Sofia M. Starnes

🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Judge This Book: The Psychology and Craft of Irresistible Covers
Host: Marni Graff

🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:45 PM
Plot Twists and Persistence: A Thriller Author’s Journey and Lessons Learned
Host: Yasmin Angoe

Info: From Northern Virginia roots to an optioned debut, Yasmin Angoe shares a road‑to‑publication story with the momentum of a thriller. She maps the rejections, rewrites, and lucky breaks behind the Nena Knight series, then shows how her process evolved—protecting voice, building discipline, and balancing ambition with life. Energizing, candid, and packed with actionable advice for aspiring and published writers.

🕑: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Doran Glass III, Virginia Youth Poet Laureate 2025
Host: Doran Glass

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Student Writing Contest Awards

🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM
Open Mike for Poetry Society of Virginia Members and other Poets

🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:45 PM
Slam Connection
Host: Atlas

Info: led by Lacroy “Atlas” Nixon, Poet Laureate, City of Williamsburg, with collaborators

🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Dead Broke, Deeply Weird, and Still Iconic: Why Poe Endures
Host: Catherine Baab

Also check out other Arts events in Williamsburg, Literary Art events in Williamsburg, Festivals in Williamsburg.