The Salem Athenaeum is pleased to announce the thirteenth Salem Literary Festival (aka Salem Lit Fest), happening September 8-11. After two years of a largely virtual festival, this year’s event will be a mix of virtual and in-person events.The Lit Fest features four days of more than 50 notable writers from across genres and across the globe sharing their stories and writing advice with each other and you.Check out the full line up of authors and sessions at the festival site.Highlights include:
- A virtual opening night conversation between New York Times bestselling authors Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Once and Future Witches and Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six and The Atlas Paradox. Attendees can watch this virtual event at Cinema Salem. This event will be followed by live readings of 5 Minute Lit essays.
- Books and Barks — a Friday night conversation on the Salem Common between internationally bestselling authors Jenna Blum, Alena Dillon, and their dogs Henry and Penny. Dogs and their well behaved humans are welcome.
- All events on Saturday will be in person at venues around Salem. These will include Children’s Lit Fest; sessions on a famous murder in Salem; Heroes vs. Villains in YA; Audiobooks and Storytelling; and Thrillers and Mysteries and more.
- Children’s Lit Fest will feature readings and activities at the Community Life Center (401 Bridge St.) and a story walk in the Ropes Garden (318 Essex St.).
- Katherine Howe will kick off Saturday’s adult in-person programming with a talk about the art of co-writing and her latest book, Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty.
- Sunday’s sessions will all be virtual, with 13 sessions for adults and young adults. Themes include romance, mothering, climate science, LGBTQ+ literature, science fiction, fantasy, monsters, and more. See the full line up here.
- Advance registration is required to obtain Zoom credentials for online sessions.
- Onsite sessions will be first come, first seated.
- All sessions are free to attend with donations gratefully accepted.
- Supporting booksellers are Wicked Good Books in Salem and Copper Dog Books in Beverly.