ALMetro360 April 18

Dr. Kirk Curnutt, Chair of the Book Selection Committee, notes that this is an event for everyone, no matter what their age, and is geared especially toward families. Children will likely relish in seeing characters in costumes, as well as getting to know a nine-year-old author from Birmingham, whose mother serves as her book illustrator. For adults, however, Ace Atkins, the popular mystery writer fromMississippi who was born in Troy and is famous for writing such novels as The Innocents (2016) and The Redeemers (2015), ought to be a highly sought-out meet-and-greet. Additionally, suspense writer Lynda Howard as well as Eric Motley, author of the memoir Madison Park: A Place of Hope (2017), will also be participating, serving as major highlights to this year’s festival. Beyond getting to know the authors behind these celebrated novels, Curnutt says to anticipate more, that this is only the tip of the iceberg. “The book festival is an event for everybody, and we’ve planned for everybody to enjoy it,” said Curnutt. “There are books for sale, from fic- tion to poetry to nonfiction, as well as panels on food, music, sports and history. We will also have a lot of Montgomery history on hand. This is the 13th year we’ve done this, and we will have 50 to 60 authors from various genres on board to { artbeat } 14 RIVER REGION LIVING www.riverregionliving.com Alabama Book Festival By LIZ VINSON Photography by JONAH ENFINGER The Alabama Book Festival at Old Alabama Town will be held on April 21st from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., bringing together book lovers, authors, panels, and workshops to promote and endorse a love for reading and literacy. For over a decade, this event has brought between 3,000 and 4,000 people to 301 Columbus Street in Montgomery, and this year’s festival is anticipated to draw the same, if not more, of a crowd.