River City Reading Festival

2010 Event Information

2009-11-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

The 2010 River City Reading Festival will be Saturday, October 9, 2010, at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt. The exact time will be announced closer to the event. The 2010 festival will be geared toward children sixth grade and younger.

2008 Festival a Success!

2008-10-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who attended the 2008 River City Reading Festival. What a day!

Read about author Rolf Potts' experience at the festival and at other stops on his book tour.

Curious George promotes the festival

2008-09-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

From Events Chair Maria Butler:

Watch the Channel 6 news tonight and the Lawrence Journal-World tomorrow to see Curious George's appearance at the Lawrence Public Library today to promote the River City Reading Festival. Many, many thanks to Tami Albin for donning the costume. Curious George will also make an appearance at the Lawrence City Commission meeting tonight. Only 3 days to go!

More festival in the news

2008-09-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

The Kansas City Star says "...if you’re a book lover and you’re not planning to be in Lawrence on Saturday, perhaps a change of plans is in order. You don’t want to miss the River City Reading Festival."

Read the full article here.

RCRF in the News

2008-09-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Emporia Gazette ran a nice article Friday noting that two Emporia State University authors will participate in the festival:

ESU authors at reading festival in Lawrence

Got Poetry? also picked up the article.

Beverley Buller's Book at National Book Festival

2008-09-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Beverley Buller, one of our River City Reading Festival authors, has learned that her book will be featured at the National Book Festival (which also will be Saturday, September 27). From Emporia: The Story of William Allen White (a 2008 Kansas Notable Book) will be the featured children's book for the Kansas Center for the Book table at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations, Beverley!

Reading Festival Chair Strives for Balance

2008-08-26T06:42:00.001-07:00

See a terrific interview with River City Reading Festival chair Kassie Edwards on KTKA TV 49 News. Kassie describes how she finds balance in her life, including the role of her volunteer work with Altrusa and the River City Reading Festival.

RCRF Author News

2008-08-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

Max McCoy, author of I, Quantrill, visited Lawrence this week. Read about it on his blog and see the feature story in the Lawrence Journal-World.

The Schedule is Up!

2008-08-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

The 2008 River City Reading Festival schedule is now online! Check it out!

Interview with Thomas Frank

2008-08-04T19:14:00.001-07:00

Listen to an interview with our keynote speaker, Thomas Frank, and read an excerpt of his new book, The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule, at the Books section of NPR's Web site.

You can also learn more about our speaker and his new book at his Web site and at his publisher's Web site.

Workshops and panels

2008-06-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

We've got a terrific line-up of workshops and panels for the 2008 River City Reading Festival. Check our Workshops page for the latest information.

Author Thomas Frank to appear as part of festival

2008-05-22T06:24:00.000-07:00

Journalist and political observer Thomas Frank, author of the best-selling What’s the Matter with Kansas?, will appear in Lawrence as part of the second annual River City Reading Festival in September.

Frank will speak Saturday, September 27 (time and location to be announced later). His new book, The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule, examines the role of conservative politicians in relation to big government, lobbyists, corporate interests, and more. It will be published in August.

Frank’s talk will cap a full-day celebration of reading that will appeal to all ages and span a broad range of topics and genres. River City Reading Festival activities kick off at 10 a.m. at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont, with book signings, readings, workshops, and more lasting until 4 p.m. Frank will sign books at the festival as well as after his talk.

Here's a quick look at some of this year’s festival events:

• A Mystery Tent will feature authors such as Scott Heim, Nancy Pickard, and Scott Phillips, with panel discussions and author readings throughout the day.
• In a History/Biography/Memoir Tent, authors will take the stage to tell about their interests in America's Wild West, Teddy Roosevelt, the Kansas dust bowl, and Mamie and Dwight Eisenhower. Authors include Michael L. Johnson, Candice Millard, George Paris, Marilyn Holt, and David Nichols.
• Nearly a dozen poets will read from their work.
• Children's book author Jane Kurtz, who grew up in Ethiopia and now lives in Lawrence, will talk about the power of books to change lives.

Festival organizers also invite agencies and organizations involved in the fields of literacy, reading and education to apply for a space in the Exhibitors’ Tent. Non-profit organizations that are not selling merchandise may apply to exhibit information about their services. For more information about exhibitor requirements or to download an application, visit the festival web site at www.rivercityreadingfestival.org.

RCRF Author News

2008-05-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Knot Fairy by Bobbie Hinman (a 2008 River City Reading Festival author) is a finalist for two important book awards:

• ForeWord Magazine Book-of-the-Year Award
• Benjamin Franklin Children's Book Award

Learn more about Bobbie’s books at bestfairybooks.com.

RCRF Sponsor Altrusa Wins Literacy Award

2008-05-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

Altrusa International of Lawrence, Kansas, has received the organization's prestigious District Eight Letha H. Brown Literacy Award for its role in establishing the River City Reading Festival.

The Lawrence club won the award during the Altrusa District Eight Conference, April 24-26 in Rogers, Ark. As first-place winner at the district level, the project will now be considered in the international competition.

District Eight consists of Altrusa clubs in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas.

The Letha H. Brown Literacy Award was established by Altrusa's International Board of Directors in July 1993 to honor Past International President Letha H. Brown, who in 1977 introduced literacy as a major emphasis of the organization. The objectives of the award are to stimulate interest in developing active literacy projects to serve a community, to create an awareness of Altrusa and its commitment to literacy, to encourage members of local clubs to participate actively in literacy projects designed to meet specific community needs, and to recognize outstanding club achievement in service to the community.

River City Reading Festival to be September 27, 2008

2008-05-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

(Press release: April 23, 2008)

The second annual River City Reading Festival will be Saturday, September 27, 2008, at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont.

The festival, a daylong celebration of reading, will again feature author readings, book signings, workshops for all ages, and the return of popular storybook characters. Food vendors and book sales round out the offerings.

Last year’s festival attracted more than 900 attendees and featured appearances by more than 50 authors.

“Everyone had so much fun last year, and this year will be even better,” said festival chair Kassie Edwards. "It is truly a fun day to celebrate books and reading, with something for everyone. Because we’ll have so much going on, we'll use the library meeting space inside and set up tents outside."

Altrusa Club of Lawrence, a service organization that promotes literacy, has joined with several other community organizations to plan, organize, and present the festival, including the Lawrence Public Library, Kansas University Libraries, the KU Department of Teaching and Leadership, Lawrence Arts Center, and the Lawrence school district.

2008 sponsors, in addition to Altrusa Club of Lawrence, include The Ethel and Raymond R. Rice Foundation.

For more information, visit www.rivercityreadingfestival.org.

River City Reading Festival 2008

2008-04-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the River City Reading Festival blog!

The 2008 festival will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. September 27 at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont. We're in the process of lining up authors, workshop leaders, sponsors, food vendors and more.

Check back frequently for the latest information!