Iowa City Book Festival to announce author lineup Wednesday

The Iowa City Book Festival will announce this summer’s author lineup at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 18, in a special media event in the Old Capitol Museum Senate Chamber.

In addition to the festival director and planning committee members, several local authors slated to participate in this summer’s festival will be available to the media during this event, including Larry Baker and Zach Wahls.

Baker, an adjunct assistant professor in the UI Division of Continuing Education, is the author of The Flamingo Rising (1997), Athens/America (2005), and, most recently, A Good Man (2009), which was nominated for Book of the Year by the Southeast Independent Booksellers Association in 2010.

Wahls shot to stardom as a result of a YouTube video of a speech he gave to the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in January 2011. The speech, in which the former UI engineering student detailed how he was raised by a lesbian couple and outlines his case for gay marriage, has since been viewed millions of times. He subsequently wrote a book, My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family, being published this spring.

Coffee and pastries will be served in the rotunda during the media event, and emeritus librarian Ed Holtum will provide music.

Now in its fourth year, the Iowa City Book Festival will take place July 13-15.

Presented by the University of Iowa Libraries, the festival is a celebration of books, reading, and writing, and includes programs for young and old, including author readings, book arts demonstrations, panel discussions, children’s activities, and live music.

Initially a one-day event outside the Main Library, the festival now covers three days and venues throughout downtown Iowa City, attracting thousands of book lovers.