Hello Authors!
The Columbus Book Festival will be held July 13-14, 2024.
The festival will feature adult and children’s programs. There will be two days of book talks, panel discussions, workshops and book signings by YOU, national, regional and local-to-Ohio authors with a new book to promote. An outdoor festival marketplace will include retail booksellers and literary exhibitors.
Submit your newly published or forthcoming book to participate in the Columbus Book Festival.
Submission Deadline: December 30
The Columbus Book Festival will be held July 12-13, 2025. Submissions for featured author participation will be accepted through Dec. 30, 2024.
The festival will feature adult and children’s programs. There will be two days of book talks, panel discussions, workshops and book signings by YOU, national, regional and local-to-Ohio authors with a new book to promote. An outdoor festival marketplace will include retail booksellers and literary exhibitors.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Book Submission Guidelines:
Eligible authors will have a book published between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Books from a variety of viewpoints and topics will be considered based on how they fit into existing panels and themes featured in our festival. Additional review criteria include:
- Relevance to the vision, purpose and goals of the festival
- Timeliness and importance for contemporary society
- Competence, popularity, local interest and reputation of author, illustrator, creator, producer, performer and/or publisher
- Relevancy of content to the community
- Suitability of subject and method of presentation for intended audience
- Relationship to other applications in the same subject field
- Legal definition of obscene materials
- Accuracy of the content
- Provides added value to the overall selection of festival titles
Subjects and genres desired for adult, young adult and children:
Popular Fiction
- Sci-fi, historical and contemporary fiction, romance, thriller, mystery, humor, etc.
- Series writers
Popular Nonfiction
- Narrative nonfiction, biographies, historical nonfiction, journalistic nonfiction and expository writing for a broad audience (current affairs)
- Food-related nonfiction
- Popular science
Books with an exceedingly narrow audience, such as textbooks, instructional books and business texts, will not be considered. Anthologies and edited compilations will not be accepted.
Self-published works MAY be considered if the following applies:
- Book must be professionally edited and presented
- ISBN and barcode required
- Author must have a press kit and website
- Established retailer or distributor from which wholesale copies can be purchased
Note: Authors who self-publish or utilize hybrid publishers may sell directly to attendees via Indie Author Alley or at a Marketplace Exhibitor booth. Featured Authors do not receive tabling space.
Visit the Indie Author Alley page for more details.
Timeline
Now through Dec. 30: Featured Author submissions
Rolling through April 2025: Notifications sent and contracting
Late April 2025: Featured Author lineup announced to the public
FEATURED AUTHOR BENEFITS:
Festival Scope
- 125+ Featured Authors participate in panel discussions and book talks
- 150+ bookish vendors in booths at the Festival Marketplace
- 100+ self-published and small press authors exhibit in Indie Author Alley
- Multiple Entertainment Stages and large Food Court
- Approximately 40,000 visits over two days
Featured Author Incentives
- Participation on one-to-two 60-minute panel discussions to speak about your newest title
- 30-minute book signing session
- No tabling required
- Bio and book description on festival website and event program
- Books sold on your behalf in the Official Festival Bookstore by NYT-reporting sellers
- Modest honorarium and invitation to the Festival Preview Party
