This autumn will mark the inauguration of Fall for the Book- an annual public festival celebrating literacy, reading, and writing cohosted by George Mason and the City of Fairfax. Participants include local and nationally recognized writers and professionals sharing in readings, discussions, lectures, and exhibits. This unique initiative, planned by community members, will be held in the City of Fairfax and at the George Mason University Fairfax Campus. Along with traditional author readings and signings, attendees will enjoy expert book appraisals, a poetry slam, cooking demonstrations and tastings, book sales, student readings, a sports writing panel, a regional book donation program, and book-illustrating and puppet shows for children.
Events are open to the public and most are free of charge.
Award-winning poet Forrest Gander will read from his work in the university bookstore on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, the George Mason University Century Club will sponsor a breakfast featuring guest speaker David Kaplan, Newsweek writer and author of The Silicon Boys and Their Valley of Dreams . His book is a history of Silicon Valley, complete with many legends, and tales of the valley s most notable failures and tragedies. Diane Rehm, radio personality and autobiography writer, will speak at Friday luncheon along with Roger Wilkins, Robinson Professor of History and American Culture and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. For 20 years, The Diane Rehm Show has offered Washington, D.C., listeners the opportunity to hear and participate in thoughtful and lively dialogue on an array of topics with many high-profile guests.