The Williamsburg Book Festival's mission is to promote and support the art of literary composition in the Williamsburg area and expose writers to the reading public. Our free event includes authors from various genres, speakers, illustrators, and publishers from Virginia and beyond. Join us on March 7th, 2026! Our annual family-friendly event brings together a dynamic mix of authors, poets, speakers, illustrators, and publishers from Virginia and beyond. The 2026 festival will be held from 10 am to 4 pm at the William & Mary School of Education, offering a full day of literary discovery and connection. At the Williamsburg Book Festival, our mission is to celebrate and support the art of literary composition while connecting authors with the reading public. Exhibit Share your stories in a vibrant literary community Experience Connect with passionate readers and uncover exciting new creative voices Support Empower authors and readers: contribute to help support the love of reading Bookmark this! The Williamsburg Book Festival has been one of my favorite events for many years. It’s the place real book-people go to mingle, learn, and read from the best Williamsburg has to offer. Perhaps what makes this festival one of the greatest is that the community comes out to support the authors and festival with warmth and energy that brings me back year after year. —Tj O’Connor, award winning author of The Hemingway Deception and The Dead Detective Casefiles Festival Flashbacks 1/1 We Ar e authors readers publishers writers dreamers creatives book lovers poets students ... Williamsburg is more than just our home. Williamsburg is where history and literature intersect. The town’s charming colonial ambiance provides the perfect backdrop for the Festival. Experience an energizing event in a place that inspires creativity and honors tradition. Up

Read more about the 70+ authors who will be exhibiting at the festival Exhibiting Authors T.J. O'Connor Caroline Crocker Sandy Hope Stewart George WB Scott Allison Gunn Taylor Hartley Karen Marginot Caterina Novelliere L.E. DeLano Leslie Lautenslager Alicia Swain Heather Brown Barrett Jacqueline T. Johnson Jenn Bouchard Sonny Hudson Michael Gryboski Patsy Asuncion Leslie Eva Tayloe Cindy L. Freeman Loralee Clark Kathryn Louise Wood Bill Ayres Nicole Glover A.D. Stone Larry Walsh Patricia Bradby Moore Bradley Harper T.S. Arther Mark Piggott Christy Landers Tallamy John Conlee Luz Schweig William R Hogan Teresa Inge Sally Stiles Robert Archibald D. L. Farrar Ron Peterson, Jr Peter Stipe Chris Whitlatch Lesley O'Brien S.J. Lee Tommy Kerper Michael Stephens Nan Carlton Catherine Clark Felts Tabitha Mann Sarah Newland Hugh Lessig Patti Gaustad Procopi

Featured Speakers Yasmin Angoe Plot Twists and Persistence: A Thriller Author’s Journey and Lessons Learned Read More Erika Howsare Stitching a Wild Story: How The Age of Deer Was Made Read More Catherine Baab Dead Broke, Deeply Weird, and Still Iconic: Why Poe Endures Read More Marni Graff Judge This Book: The Psychology and Craft of Irresistible Covers Read More

2026 Sponsors We proudly recognize our 2026 sponsors. Their generous support helps make the Williamsburg Book Festival possible.

< Back Michael Gryboski Michael Gryboski was born and raised in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. He graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor of arts and then a master's, both in history. In addition to writing fiction, Michael also writes news articles for a living. Michael would rather be correct than widely accepted. Next

< Back Bradley Harper Bradley Harper MD is a retired US Army pathologist who began writing after retirement at age 63. His debut novel, A Knife in the Fog, placed a young Dr Conan Doyle on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. It was a 2019 Edgar Award Finalist and has been translated into three languages. His fourth and most recent novel, Maiden Voyage, features an art heist by a trio of female thieves... aboard the Titanic. He attended Napier University 2021-22 for a Masters in Creative Wriiing, and this was his thesis project. Next

< Back Nan Carlton Nan Carlton is an award-winning writer and illustrator of children’s books. Originally from western North Carolina, today, she and her husband divide their time between Richmond, Va. and Cape Charles, Va. Nan holds degrees in music education from Lenoir-Rhyne University and Appalachian State University. In 2024, her first two picture books, Huck, Chuck, & Bruce: At the Shore and You Can’t Judge a Bee by Its Color, were published. Next

< Back Tommy Kerper Once upon a time, a bored lawyer and avid reader searched for a particular book. Tired of his favorite characters becoming background noise to the heroes of the story, he took it upon himself to write something different. A few books later, Tommy has dropped the lawyer gig and decided writing full-time is worth giving a chance. He lives in Virginia with his perfect wife, their dog with endless energy, and two boys that wear even the dog out. You can find Tommy writing, sipping another cup of coffee, or reading anything he can get his hands on. Next

< Back Taylor Hartley Taylor Hartley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing. Inspired largely by Tamora Pierce and Madeline L’Engle, Taylor started writing stories when they were nine years old and never looked back. Next

< Back Lesley O'Brien Lesley O’Brien is an English American writer, adventurer, sailor, and ailurophile. An accomplished neuroscientist, Lesley has extensive scientific publications as well as an illustrated children's book series. Lesley was born and raised in England but has spent her last 25 years in North American. When not sailing the Chesapeake Bay, or writing stories inspired by her cat Marco, Lesley is finding new mountains to climb. Lesley is a lover of long horizons and salty air, and a proponent of reinventing oneself whenever the conveyor belt of life is no longer in service. Next

< Back William R Hogan William R. Hogan is a fourth-generation US Army officer with a deep and personal interest in World War II history. He is the youngest son of Samuel M. Hogan, one of the Third Armored Division’s most charismatic and successful tactical-level combat commanders in the European Theater. His worldwide service in armored, special operations, and airborne units lends a personal touch of soldierly experience to his writings. He retired from the Army after 22 years of service in the summer of 2024 after serving as the US Army representative to the French Army Staff in Paris. He is currently on the faculty at the Joint Military Attaché School in Washington DC. Next

< Back Sonny Hudson Sonny Hudson is the acclaimed author of the Jessica Jansen Thriller series, which includes The Murder Game, Glitz. Glamour. Murder., and Blood & Vengeance. And now, with the release of his latest, Divine Deception, Hudson continues the fast-paced and taut storytelling tradition he’s known for. Fans of political action and spy thrillers by top writers like Robert Ludlum and Brad Thor will love Hudson's debut novel, Let the Truth Be Told. This perennial favorite has captivated audiences at events year after year. Currently residing in Williamsburg, VA, Hudson provides business & technology consulting to Global 1000 companies. Next