Saturday, September 8, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
San Luis Obispo, CA -- Mission Plaza

Join us on Saturday, September 8, 2007 for the Eighth Annual Central Coast Book and Author Festival. The historic Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo, California, is the perfect setting for authors and book lovers to come together during this family event.

The 2005 Central Coast Book & Author Festival raised $7,500 for the Foundation for San Luis Obispo County Public Libraries. Proceeds purchased reward books for the county-wide children's Summer Reading Program. Support our public libraries by becoming a sponsor, exhibitor or volunteer in 2007!   Essay Contest! Adults and children are invited to participate in a writing challenge. Selected essays will be read at the Festival. See the Essay Contest Rules for more information and submission details.   Authors and Publishers -- See the Press release and the Exhibitor Information for vendor details. The Booth Reservation form for 2007 is available for download in Adobe Acrobat format.

The list of authors and vendors for 2007 is updated as booth applications are received. Additional author information as well as schedule of events and vendor list will be posted on an ongoing basis as details are known. Here is the press release for the event listing some activities planned for the day. Among the entertainers are Elaine Muray, Ginger Hendrix, the Pacific Horizon Chorus, Bud Mercer and The Singing Hands Children's Choir.

Special Guests for 2007:

Sharon Mehdi Mehdi's little book - The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering - tells a tale of two grandmothers standing in the park, saving the world. The story has inspired an international movement of Standing Women for peace and rights. Mehdi will read from her book and tell its amazing story. Sharon Mehdi's website.

Alison Bell Southern California native and author of the Zibby Payne series popular with 7 to 10 year-old readers. Newly published Zibby Payne & the Drama Trauma continues the adventures of the star of the first book, Zibby Payne & The Wonderful, Terrible Tomboy Experiment. Alison Bell's website.

Catherine Ryan Hyde San Luis Obispo County resident and author of novels including Pay It Forward, Love in the Present Tense, and Young Adult novels Becoming Chloe and the newly released The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance. She will preview her novels scheduled for release in 2008: Chasing Windmills and The Day I Killed James. Catherine Ryan Hyde's website.

Los Angeles Noir comes to SLO!

Contributors to the latest in the acclaimed Akashic Books Noir City Series, Los Angeles Noir join the festival to discuss their work -- including Editor Denise Hamilton, Jim Pascoe and Naomi Hirahara.

Denise Hamilton Los Angeles author of the Eve Diamond crime novels, including the 5th in the series, Prisoner of Memory. Denise Hamilton's website

Naomi Hirahara Los Angeles Noir contributor Naomi Hirahara’s latest mystery of curmudgeonly Japanese-American gardener Mas Arai, Snakeskin Shamisen, is the winner of the 2007 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original Novel. Her nonfiction highlights Japanese American figures and history. Naomi Hirahara's website.

Jim Pascoe This year the Book Festival includes graphic novels! Hellboy Animated comics author Jim Pascoe introduce his new original manga series UNDERTOWN. Jim will also join Denise Hamilton and Naomi Hirahara in a panel of Los Angeles Noir contributors. Jim Pascoe's website.

Featured Local Authors

Vicki León Author of the popular Uppity Women series, Vicki León also delights audiences as a speaker. Her new book Working IX to V, looks at Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World.

Leigh Rubin Returning to the festival by popular demand, syndicated cartoonist Leigh Rubin keeps us laughing with his Rubes® Cartoons.

If you would like a better idea of what to expect, see the details of the previous festivals:

• 2006
• 2005
• 2004