Join us on Instagram for an interactive event. Authors, did you write a story outside of your experience? Readers, do you read books that are outside of your experience? We want to hear your thoughts.

Go follow @whatlynnsaid on Instagram, she is kicking off the event (and closing it out on 9/26). Then post an Instagram story, reels, livestream, or video post any time between 9/21-9/26 about your experience. Tag us @thewritewomenbookfest and use the hashtags #TWWBF2020 and #WOMXNLITOUT2020 so we can share and comment!

This event was inspired by L. Penelope's podcast episode 74, recommended by TWWBF Outreach Coordinator Cardyn Brooks (@cardynbpresents on Instagram).

https://lpenelope.com/2020/06/who-tells-your-story-my-imaginary-friends-episode-74/ @leslyepenelope

One fun thing we try to do is give out nice swag bags and free raffle book baskets.

This year we have 100 swag bags and two book fest fan baskets and one vendor basket.

If you would like your chance to win one of these baskets or to sign up for swag bags please go to this form and fill it out:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mY7DW96y6IbEYRXCG2SMmUoYE3yC2F4ZwlZ_2d0lS64/viewform?edit_requested=true

NOTE that you will need to be available to pick up any swag or basket next Saturday 9/26 from 10am-Noon - volunteers will be at Marietta House Museum to give them out (please wear your mask, we will be wearing ours). The event is virtual but we felt the swag bags were an important part of making you feel appreciated!

We hope you will share the book festival with your friends and encourage them to shop from our shop page and attend events online. Thank you!

This passage from Zora Neale Hurston's essay, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" inspired the More Than Tragic: Happy Endings, Adventure and Fantasy for All discussion topic. 

"But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes." 

Where the words "gendered" or "sexually oriented" or "religiously faithful" or "aged" or "made" could take the place of the word "colored", especially when authors who are not members of marginalized populations create characters and write points of view for members of marginalized populations, under the un/conscious assumptions that being Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, 40+ (womxn), LGBTQUIA+ or any other trait that attracts discrimination in society as an automatically tragic circumstance.   

The tragedy is sourced from living in a world that refuses to recognize, honor, and respect the equal intrinsic value of every human being. 

How do these assumptions about tragic traits of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age etc. impact mainstream fiction?  

This panel will be moderated by author Cardyn Brooks. We are so honored to have authors Gay G. Gunn, Pamela Beverly, Alexi Venice, and Kamari Talley on our virtual panel this year. Please follow them on social media, and visit their websites. You can find most information in our shop HERE.

For more information about Zora Neale Hurston, visit the website here:
https://www.zoranealehurston.com/

"Cold Spots" is the story of a college freshman who is learning to recognize her battle with mental health all while trying to overcome the psychological trauma of a stalker. This book features themes such as: sexuality, feminine issues, anxiety, depression, college pressures, and the subtleties of psychological trauma.

"why am i falling?" is a comic collection representing ten of my own personal fears. This is an experimental dive into fear as something that is both nonsensical and all too real. Each comic in this collection is constructed entirely out of free-to-use images in the public domain. After each chapter follows a poem or a piece of prose. "why am i falling?" is free to read as a PDF on my website (authormmeyers.com) and is available to purchase as a paperback on Amazon.

You can also pick up one of these Write Women Book Fest exclusive sticker on Redbubble! How awesome is that?

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/53752786