The Sonoma County Book Festival is back for its 12th year, promising a day of literature, poetry, authors, entertainment, kids activities and community fun.

Seventy-six authors, panelists, storytellers, and poets will be on hand, and it's hard to know where to start. To name but a few, Maxine Hong Kingston (above), senior lecturer at UC Berkeley, is known for her experiences with Chinese immigrants; her latest book is I Love a Broad Margin to My Life. A 2010 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) fellow and Fulbright Scholar, Oakland resident Michael David Lukas will present his book, The Oracle of Stamboul. Award-winning journalist Belva Davis has penned Never In My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman's Life in Journalism. Ann Packer is a recipient of the James Michener award whose works of fiction can be found in Vogue and the New Yorker; her latest book is Swim Back to Me.

A highlight this year is an expanded Young Adult section with feature panel discussions, a panel on "Advice for Teen Writers" and a Teen Poetry Slam with cash prizes. Based on the popular series by Elizabeth Singer Hunt, a Secret Agent Jack Stalwart Treasure Hunt will be ongoing. Elizabeth Hunt herself will select the winners.

All this and much, much more is at the Sonoma County Book Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Courthouse Square and Central Library, Santa Rosa. 10am–4pm. Free. 707.537.8783.

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