2008 National Book Festival

Reading, 'Riting & Revelry

Washington D.C. -- On a humid early fall day, the 2008 National Book Festival took place on the expanse of the National Mall. The Library of Congress sponsors the yearly event. The purpose is to promote reading by showcasing authors and programs that support literacy. First Lady Laura Bush is the honorary Chair; she also appeared as an author this year along with her daughter Jenna Bush Hager. More than 120,000 people attended this year's Festival, despite the overcast skies and occasional shower.

The Festival is held in big white tents on the National Mall. Each tent is dedicated to a different literary genre. In the Children's tent, the crowd heard from Ms. Dionne Warwick regarding her new book Say a Little Prayer. Also in that tent was former New York Giants' running Back Tiki Barber promoting his third children's book, written with his twin brother Ronde, entitled Go Long. In the Teens Tent, you found sci-fi write Neil Gaiman and mildly scary horror writer, R.L. Stine. The Fiction & Mystery tent featured both Salman Rushdie and Philippa Gregory. Home & Family enthusiasts were treated to Michelle Singletary and Eleanor Clift. History & Biography featured authors Kimberly Dozier discussing her injuries received in a roadside bombing in Iraq and Daniel Schorr discussing his book regarding the turn of the Millennium and its meaning. Finally, Poetry featured acclaimed poets Michael Lind and Molly Peacock. This is just a sampling of the fine authors at this event. Every year award winning authors find themselves standing before standing room only crowds on the Mall in September, this year was no different.