George Mason and the City of Fairfax celebrate books and their authors between September 21 and 24 with Fall for the Book, Northern Virginia's second annual community-based book festival. Readings, storytellers, discussions, lectures, workshops, and exhibits highlight local and national writers of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and children's literature on George Mason's Fairfax Campus and throughout the City of Fairfax. Fall for the Book is unique because it is planned by and for the community, according to Rebecca Hoyt, director of Fall for the Book.
Local organizations sponsor and host festival events.
And with the Washington Post as a major sponsor, this year's festival is expected to be bigger and better. A number of George Mason faculty members are expected to participate this year, including Alan Cheuse, Carolyn Forch , Eric Pankey, Jennifer Atkinson, Hans Bergman, Susan Richards Shreve, and Susan Tichy. As they were last year, alumni will be an integral part of the festival. Modeled after the Virginia Festival of the Book held each year in Charlottesville, the idea of a festival for Northern Virginia began with Randolph Church, a longtime George Mason supporter and former rector of George Mason's Board of Visitors. English professor and author Stephen Goodwin then took on the project with the help and financial support of the College of Arts and Sciences and its dean, Daniele Struppa.