William Saroyan Centennial
Ongoing
Fresno, California
Fresno celebrates their native son, William Saroyan, during the 100th anniversary year of his birth (1908-2008). The celebrated Armenian-American novelist and playwright, Fresno born and died, whose published writings topped over 4,000 literary works, including short stories, plays, and novels, became an award-winning writer and playwright, winner of a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award, and The Drama Critic’s Circle Award.

Hollywood Book Festival
July 12
The Grove at Farmers Market, Los Angeles
Held in the show business capital, the Hollywood Book Festival “aims to (1) spotlight literature worthy of further consideration by the talent-hungry pipeline of the entertainment industry; and (2) facilitate getting those works into the proper hands for consideration.”

Sierra Storytelling Festival
July 25-27
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center, Nevada City, California
Nationally and internationally known tellers will converge on the historic North Columbia Schoolhouse to “regale us with tales.” In addition, two workshops in which you can learn about the craft of storytelling and its applications will be held on Friday afternoon, July 25, with storytellers Judith Black and Antonio Sacre.

Newberry Library Book Festival
July 24-27
Chicago, Illinois
“Feed your bibliomania at the Newberry's annual Book Fair!” Such food for thought includes more than 100,000 donated books covering 60 categories, with a value menu of books priced under $2. Admission is free.

Michigan Storytellers Festival
July 18-19
Flint, Michigan

Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference
“Faulkner: the Returns of the Text”
July 20-24
Oxford, Mississippi
With lectures and panel discussions, the conference will explore for five days -- in line with Faulkner criticism and its place within literary study generally -- how the enduring (and perhaps prevailing) works of William Faulkner have “responded to the facts and forces of an evolving world, not so much as reflection or illustration, but as original depiction and interpretation.”

Buffalo Book Fair
July 18
Buffalo, New York
Celebrating the power of reading with author presentations, book signings, interactive activities for children, seminars and panel discussions, the Buffalo Book Fair marks the opportunity to meet and greet authors as one of the favorite activities of past book fair participants. Admission is free

Neal Pollacks Timothy McSweeney’s Festival of Literature, Theater, and Music
July 26-27
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Because no magazine is complete without a festival to celebrate itself, and because we believe that festivals are fun and should include drinking beer, and, because, let's face it, our ambition knows no earthly bounds, we are announcing a celebration of all things new and exciting in literature. This festival will be held in Philadelphia, PA, the birthplace and first capital of our nation, and still a great city with a very entertaining basketball team.” --GH