Join us for the Maine Festival of the Book March 29 - April 1, 2012 in Portland!
Four days, more than 75 authors, artists, and performers! Programs for ages 3 to 100! Loyal attendees will notice we have added a day to include a special program Thursday night presented in collaboration with Maine Humanities Council and the Kate Cheney Chappell '83 Center for Book Arts at USM. Opening Night will be Friday night, March 30. Enjoy a free day of programs for all ages (and free parking) on Saturday, March 31 at the Abromson Center, University of Southern Maine -- readings, panel discussions, film, signings, book sales and kids programs too.
Most events are free and unticketed (with the exception of Opening Night), and available first-come, first-served.
Download a schedule of programs for adults
Download a schedule of youth/children programs
Download a festival poster and help us publicize the event.
Programs are designed to appeal to a variety of interests and many touch on the the writing process. Discussions this year will range from romantic fantasy to the biography of Kurt Vonnegut to an insider’s view of crime scenes, presented by a veteran NYPD undercover police detective.
Join us for Opening Night 2012. Purchase tickets to Opening Night: An Evening with Tony Horwitz, author of the Civil War narratives Midnight Crossing and Confederates in the Attic. Tickets may be purchased with a check by mail or through the form below:
>online with a credit card starting in February. Mingle with the authors and other presenters on Friday evening March 30 at 6 pm by purchasing tickets to the benefit party Opening Night: An Evening with the Authors at $25 pp, which includes admission to the 7:30 pm program with Tony Horwitz. Or buy tickets to the 7:30 pm program only at $5 pp in advance and $10 pp after March 25.The festival offers programs for children and young adults too! In addition to all the free author presentations and signings all day Saturday at USM's Abromson Center, there will be Opening Night Friday evening, the Annual Poetry Party Saturday night, a Book Arts Bazaar all day Sunday at USM's Wishcamper Center, and the annual dramatic reading at Portland Stage by the Portland Stage Affiliates Sunday evening.
The Maine Festival of the Book brings together writers and readers to enjoy readings, panel discussions, book signings, and performances. With the exception of Opening Night and Youth Outreach, festival events are first-come, first-served, unticketed seating, and are free. If you would like to be added to the Maine Reads mailing list for festival information, please send your contact information (mailing address, email address, and phone) to info@mainereads.org.
In its five years of existence, the Maine Festival of the Book has featured more than 300 authors, including five Pulitzer Prize winners and been attended by more than 12,000 people.
FESTIVAL OPPORTUNITIES
Participation Information
Authors and Other Presenters:
Please contact us this summer and fall to be considered for festival 2013, which will be held April in Portland. Festival 2012 is filled.
If you are interested in participating in the 2013 Maine Festival of the Book, bear in mind that we are primarily interested in offering programs of thematic conversations among pairings or groups of authors (see Group Application Form below), preferably authors with new books out. Libraries and bookstores in Maine do a wonderful job of presenting solo readings by Maine authors and we do not wish to duplicate their programming. We encourage authors to consider making an application for a program in which they share the stage with another author, during which they thread a theme, creating a uniquely engaging program.
Children and youth programs, however, may feature one presenter. For these programs we prefer authors with new books and whose programming offers a hands-on approach. Such as a cartooning or illustration workshop, or a reading that includes some interactive piece.
Individual Author Presenter Application Form
Group Presenter Application Form
Volunteers and Sponsors Festival 2012
We always welcome new sponsors and volunteers. Please go to the appropriate web pages on Maine Reads for further information.
Be a Sponsor
Be a Festival Volunteer
The Maine Festival of the Book 2011 was held April 1-3 in Portland. More than 2000 people attended the three-day event. We're sorry if you missed it but hope you will join us next year! Special thanks to our sponsors, collaborators, and presenters. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of our volunteers, particularly Altrusa International, Inc. of Portland, Maine. (www.altrusa.com)
Presenters at the Maine Festival of the Book 2011 (April 1-3) included Paul Harding, winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Sarah Braunstein, a winner of the 2010 National Book Award 5 under 35, Julia Glass, winner of the 2002 National Book Award for Fiction, bestselling novelist Stewart O'Nan, Lily King, winner of the 2010 New England Book Award for Fiction, and Tom Allen, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers. Program Brochure Maine Festival of the Book 2011
The Maine Festival of the Book 2009 and 2011 audio tapes of selected programs can be heard on the Maine Humanities Council Web site.
Maine Festival of the Book 2011
Maine Festival of the Book 2010
Maine Festival of the Book 2009
Maine Festival of the Book 2008
Maine Festival of the Book 2007
(Our inaugural year.)
Maine Festival of the Book Sponsors
Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation
(Grant Recipient)
FairPoint Communications
Casella Waste * MaineHealth * Portland Magazine * Camden National Bank * UNUM
Maine Arts Commission * Pine State Trading
T-Mobile USA * TD Bank * First Wind * National Semiconductor
Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems * Bangor Hydro Electric Company
Fairchild Semiconductor * AT&T * Plum Creek * U.S. Cellular
Martin’s Point Health Care * L.L. Bean * Maine Credit Union League * Portland Harbor Hotel
Orchard Foundation * Maine Humanities Council * Bernstein Shur * Barber Foods
Bangor Savings Bank * Delta Dental * Isamax Snacks * Shipyard Brewing Company
Maine Office of Tourism
Media Sponsors
Maine Public Broadcasting Network * Portland Magazine * MaineToday Media Inc.
The Forecaster * Bangor Daily News
Host Committee
Former Governor of Maine John E. Baldacci
and First Lady of Maine Karen M. Baldacci
Justin and Rachael Alfond
Tom and Diana Allen
Susan Austin
Jim and Kathy Case
Sarah Cecil
Tom and Kate Chappell
Richard and Deborah Connor
Madeleine G. Corson
Beth Edmonds
Jacob and Tess Gerritsen
Leon and Lisa Gorman
Cyrus and Patty Hagge
Stephanie Hart
Shirley Helfrich
Nathanial Hull
Pam Joy
Jim Mitchell
Amos and Lola Orcutt
Michael Reed
Neil and Carla Rolde
Lanelle Roussel
Richard and Barbara Russo
Colin Sargent and Dr. Nancy Sargent
Lizz Sinclair
Pat Smus
Celeste Viger
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