Ready, Set... Read, Write and Listen!

And so the countdown to May 21 begins. Yes, the big day is almost upon us. And no, I’m not talking about Judgment Day… I’m talking about the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

If you’re a loyal Gaithersburg Patch reader, maybe you’ve been following our monthly columns about the festival. Or maybe you’re new to the site, the column, or this particular event. Whatever the case, with the festival less than a week away, I thought we’d take this chance to give a brief overview of what you will find at Gaithersburg’s City Hall on May 21.

Authors, Authors, and More Authors: After all, what would a Book Festival be without authors? More than 80 local and nationally acclaimed authors are on our line-up this year. And really, there’s something for everyone… Sports lover? Try Redskins historian Mike Richman. Into chick lit? “Skipping a Beat” by Sarah Pekkanen. History buff? How about two Secret Service agents who were with JFK the day he was assassinated or "American Uprising: The Untold Story of America's Largest Slave Revolt” by Daniel Rasmussen. Current events buff? Come hear Tom Shroder talk about his latest, “Fire on the Horizon: The Untold Story of the Gulf Oil Disaster,” or James Zogby, author of "Arab Voices: What They Are Saying To Us And Why It Matters" and the founder and president of the Arab American Institute. Into poetry, science, or self-help? We’ve got you covered. See the full list of featured authors or download the schedule.

Child’s Play: No, you don’t have to leave your children at home or find a babysitter. They will have plenty of things to do in our Children’s Village. Authors will talk about their books (including this year’s Newbery Medal winner, Clare Vanderpool), vendors and sponsors will run a variety of games and activities (including an Artistic Bookbinding workshop and an Adventure Theatre workshop) and we’ll even have an American Girl booth!

Pick Up a Pencil: Aspiring writer? Does your teen need some help with that college essay? Looking to start a freelance career? We’ve got you covered. Our slate of hands-on workshops – which require pre-registration and a $5 to $10 fee per workshop – will provide the guidance you need to take that next step.

An Insider’s POV: Interested in the State of the Book or looking to publish a children’s book? We have panel discussions with an amazing slate of industry insiders ready to give you their perspectives on both these topics!

Java Junction: Get off your feet while you listen to local musicians and poets in our Ogden Nash Coffee House. We’re also excited that the Coffee House will be hosting readings by the finalists in our high school student short story contest, after which we’ll be announcing the winners at 2 p.m.

From Door to Door… or Rather, Booth to Booth: An exciting array of more than 60 exhibitors will be selling books and providing additional information about their organizations.

Nook? Kindle? What are Those?: Barnes & Noble will be selling books written by our featured authors, and there will be a used book sale onsite as well.

You Are What You Eat: From Whole Foods to Slice of Olde Towne to Carmen’s Italian Ice, take a break for lunch – or a snack – without having to leave the festival.

Oh, and it’s not too late to sign up to volunteer!

For more information about the Gaithersburg Book Festival, go to our website, sign up for our monthly enewsletter, connect with us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter (@GburgBookFest).

Robin Ferrier is the communications manager at the Johns Hopkins Montgomery County Campus and the chair of the Public Relations Committee for the Gaithersburg Book Festival.