Salt Lake City will soon have its own citywide book festival — and a bestselling author is already set to attend.
Jodi Picoult, the New York Times bestselling author of nearly 30 novels, will headline the first Salt Lake Book Festival in October.
“We’re building the Salt Lake Book Festival to celebrate the idea that books can bring people together,” Salt Lake Book Festival Director Amanda Warren said in a press release. “Having Jodi Picoult help us kick off our inaugural year feels like a dream start to what we hope becomes a lasting Utah tradition.”
Picoult is perhaps best known for her 2004 novel “My Sister’s Keeper,” which was later made into a movie starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin. Apart from her writing, Picoult is also known for her work with organizations like PEN America as an advocate for the freedom to read.
The festival, which will be held at The Gateway in Salt Lake City on Oct. 17, will feature a variety of events, including author conversations, panel discussions, book signings, and a market for books, art and food, per its website.
In addition to Picoult, authors Mathilda Zeller, Nghi Vo and Brian Laidlaw will also attend the festival, with more authors and events expected to be announced at a later date.
“We are really excited about the inaugural Salt Lake Book Festival,” said Kase Johnstun, director of Utah Center for the Book, in the press release. “With its central location, open spaces, and big-name authors, it’s going to be a lovely day for books and book people alike.”
Utah Center for the Book is affiliated with the nonprofit group Utah Humanities, which hosts the Utah Humanities Book Festival across the state each year. Beginning in 1998 as The Great Salt Lake Book Festival, it has since become Utah’s largest — and oldest — book festival, partnering with libraries, bookstores and organizations across the state.
“This is such a great addition to our Utah Humanities statewide literary ecosystem, in the heart of SLC!” Johnstun said of the Salt Lake City festival. “At Utah Humanities, we hope we can be a partner in this event for years to come in our combined efforts to show the world Salt Lake’s literary scene is one to watch.”
Tickets for Picoult’s appearance at the Salt Lake Book Festival are already on sale at the festival’s website.