Mark your calendars, book lovers! The Salem Literary Festival is back for its 15th year, promising five days of literary delights from September 4-8, 2024. This beloved event, presented by the Salem Athenaeum in partnership with Salem Public Library, brings together over 60 local, national, and international authors for a feast of readings, discussions, and workshops.
Festival Schedule
Wednesday, September 4 (Online only)
- 7:00 p.m. – Keynote Event: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks in conversation with bestselling author Brunonia Barry
Thursday, September 5 (Online only)
- 7:00 p.m. – Found in Translation panel featuring Jennifer Croft, Hannah Weber, and Diane Stern
Friday, September 6 (In person)
- 7:00 p.m. – Enduring Hawthorne at The House of the Seven Gables Experience a unique evening with an open mic inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne, followed by a special musical adaptation of “Young Goodman Brown” by local artist Dan Blakeslee.
Saturday, September 7 (In person)
- Adult Sessions: Salem Five Community Room, 208 Essex Street
- YA Sessions: Salem State University, Berry Library, 4 College Avenue
- Children’s Lit Fest: Community Life Center, 401 Bridge Street Featuring readings and activities with illustrator Scott Magoon and authors Cathy Ballou Mealey and Lori Haskins Houran.
Sunday, September 8 (In person)
- 3:00 p.m. – One Book, One Salem event with Ilyon Woo, discussing her Pulitzer Prize-winning biography “Master Slave Husband Wife” at Salem Academy Charter School, 45 Congress St.
Festival Highlights
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Keynote
Don’t miss the online keynote session featuring Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the international bestseller “Horse.” She’ll be in conversation with Salem’s own bestselling author, Brunonia Barry.
One Book, One Salem
Join the community-wide reading of Ilyon Woo’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, “Master Slave Husband Wife.” The program culminates in a live discussion with the author on September 8th.
Enduring Hawthorne
Experience a unique evening at The House of the Seven Gables on September 6th. Participate in an open mic inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne, followed by a special musical adaptation of “Young Goodman Brown” by local artist Dan Blakeslee.
Children’s Lit Fest
Young readers are in for a treat on September 7th with readings and activities featuring illustrator Scott Magoon and authors Cathy Ballou Mealey and Lori Haskins Houran.
Festival Details
- Dates: September 4-8, 2024
- Location: Various venues across Salem, MA (some sessions online)
- Cost: All events are FREE, but donations are appreciated
- Registration: Required for online sessions at salemlitfest.org
Support Local Literature
While enjoying the festival, don’t forget to support our local independent bookstore, Wicked Good Books of Salem. They’ll be on hand with a fantastic selection of titles from featured authors.
About the Organizers
The Salem Literary Festival is a labor of love, coordinated by the Salem Athenaeum and made possible by a dedicated committee of volunteers. The Salem Athenaeum, incorporated in 1810, is an independent membership library and cultural center that has been the primary presenter of the festival since 2017.
For more information and updates, follow Salem Lit Fest on Facebook and Instagram (@SalemLitFest). We can’t wait to see you there!
#SalemLitFest2024 #LiteraryFestival #BookLovers
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About Wicked Good Books: Wicked Good Books is Salem’s indie bookstore, welcoming locals and visitors from around the world since 2014. We offer a wide selection of new titles and local favorites. Also popular are hoodies, mugs and more featuring our kitty logo. We gratefully accept donations of used fiction, but we don’t buy used books. About Silly Bunny Toys: Silly
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