Livingston Parish Book Festival

The Livingston Parish Library is thrilled to announce the date for this year's Livingston Parish Book Festival, which will commemorate the event's 10-year anniversary!

The 10th Annual Livingston Parish Book Festival will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Main Branch in Livingston, located at 20390 Iowa Street, Livingston, LA 70754. 

Hosted by the Livingston Parish Library, this event is free and open to all ages. All other LPL branches will be closed on October 25.

Held every year in the fall, the Livingston Parish Book Festival is the Library's biggest single-day event, featuring author discussions, book signings, live music, food, face painting, games, crafts, and other family-friendly activities. Visitors are also able to utilize any of the Library’s resources. 

Over the past decade, the Book Festival has blossomed into one of Livingston Parish's most cherished events, drawing thousands of visitors for a day-long celebration of books, literature, art, and community. We are pulling out all the stops to commemorate this special milestone, so be sure to mark your calendars for a day you won't forget!

Known for her captivating storytelling and imaginative worldbuilding, Mari Mancusi is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has written more than 30 science fiction/fantasy books in addition to being an Emmy Award-winning former television news producer. Mancusi’s bestselling series have been awarded spots on major state reading lists and have been featured selections in Scholastic Book Fairs and clubs.

Mancusi’s extensive catalog includes “New Dragon City” and its upcoming prequel “Dawn of the Dragons”; “Dragon Ops” and its sequel “Dragon Ops: Dragons vs. Robots”; “The Once and Future Geek” and “Geeks and the Holy Grail”, both from “The Camelot Code” series; “Princesses, Inc.”; “Gamer Girl”; and “Golden Girl.”

Mancusi has also written tie-in novels for Disney (such as “Frozen: Polar Nights, Cast into Darkness”; “Frozen: Dangerous Secrets”; and “Sally’s Lament”) as well as Netflix (“The Official Wednesday Cookbook”).

Shannon Kelley Atwater is an author-illustrator based in New Orleans. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from Loyola University in 2009 and has been working in the arts ever since.

Atwater published her first book, “Alligators Don’t Like Flowers,” in 2022. Since then, she has written and illustrated three other children’s books: “Goodnight Pothole,” “Five Little Termites,” and her newest book “Fais Do-Do,” which includes an original song. She has also provided the illustrations for “Rainbow Rodney” and “Clyde the Giant Crawfish.”

Atwater has been a featured author at The Louisiana Book Festival, The New Orleans Book Festival, and featured on NPR’s The Reading Life with Susan Larson. She lives with her husband Nate and their three kids, their dog, and their bearded dragon.

Baptiste Paul is a Caribbean-born speaker, environmentalist, activist, and award-winning author of multiple children’s books. 

Paul’s acclaimed debut picture book, “The Field,” was inspired by his childhood in Saint Lucia, and received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Booklist. His other children’s books include “Peace,” “To Carnival: A Celebration in Saint Lucia,” “Climb On,” “Dear You, Dream Big,” and Patchwork Prince.” Several of his titles have been translated into multiple languages.

Baptiste’s stories are fueled by his passion for diversity, inclusion, and uninhibited jwe (play). He loves writing stories inspired by his childhood and featuring words from his native language, Creole.

Rachel M. Marsh, a Baton Rouge native, brought her family’s Cajun folk tales to life with her debut middle grade novel, “Rougarou Magic.”

The story follows 12-year-old Feliciana, a Cajun girl who is having a tough time adjusting to her new life in Boston. But things change when Feliciana’s grandmother sends her a mischievous and magical monster from Cajun folklore – Roux the rougarou. After discovering that the creatures from Cajun folklore exist, Feliciana is torn between hiding her Southern heritage and starting fresh at her new school – all while caring for an unexpected magical friend.

“Rougarou Magic” was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.

Marsh, who earned her Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing for Children from Simmons University, will release her second novel, “Grandpere’s Ghost Swamp,” in 2026.

(The Livingston Parish Library does not cover product or service liability for any purchased merchandise, sale of tangible or intangible goods, transfer of property, or other transactions entered into between patrons and vendors at library-hosted events. The library is not a stakeholder or beneficiary of the proceeds of third-party vendors. The library shall be held harmless from all claims for any damaged or inferior products, incomplete services, erroneous transactions, or any other claims arising from any purchased merchandise, sale of tangible or intangible goods, transfer of property, or other transactions entered into between patrons and vendors at library-hosted events.  Any claims from the aforementioned acts of sale shall be taken to the vendor for resolution by the transacting patron. The library shall not act as an emissary in any claims that may arise.)

Author's Row Participants

• A. Lonergan

• Abbie Lynn Smith

• Adam Santino

• Amy Tindell

• Angela Porter

• Angela White

• Angie Kay Dilmore

• Barry Borderlon

• Brittany Ashlyn

• Cari Galeziewski

• Courtney Kelly

• Cynthia Young

• Daniell Augustine Phillips

• Dawn Duvernay

• Donald R. Smith

• Donna Johnson

• Dot Cavalier

• Dr. Shontell Buffington

• Ethan Swearingen and Ryder Mote

• Fred Mulhearn

• Garrett Wheat

• H.L. Arledge

• Hannah Hardy

• Holly Rose

• Jazzmine Nelson

• Karen Konnerth

• Keylonda Wheeler

• K.R. Doucette Gonzalez

• Krystal Courtney Robards

• Kyra Wills Luckett

• LeNika S. Kennedy

• Lynn Shurr

• Madelaine Brauner Landry

• Meredith Jao

• Michael Verrett

• Monique Ellis

• Nelda Hunt

• Nettye Johnson

• Omar Zapata

• Paula L. Jones

• Preston Gill

• Q. Eli

• Richard Ercolini

• Robert Maxie

• Sarah Armstrong

• Sarah Eads

• Stephanie Fournet

• Stephen Green

• Tami Richard

• Tammy Jenkins

• Tiffany C. Anthony

• Timothy Waldrop

• Velma Albert

(The Livingston Parish Library does not cover product or service liability for any purchased merchandise, sale of tangible or intangible goods, transfer of property, or other transactions entered into between patrons and vendors at library-hosted events. The library is not a stakeholder or beneficiary of the proceeds of third-party vendors. The library shall be held harmless from all claims for any damaged or inferior products, incomplete services, erroneous transactions, or any other claims arising from any purchased merchandise, sale of tangible or intangible goods, transfer of property, or other transactions entered into between patrons and vendors at library-hosted events. Any claims from the aforementioned acts of sale shall be taken to the vendor for resolution by the transacting patron. The library shall not act as an emissary in any claims that may arise.)

Community Row Participants

• American Red Cross

• Department of Child and Family Services

• Friends of the Livingston Library System

• Girl Scouts Louisiana East

• Junior League Baton Rouge

• Lions Club

• Livingston Parish Children's Choirs

• Livingston Parish Library Alliance

• Magnolia Pet Sitting Services

• Nibbles and Noshes

• Novel Creations

• The Office of Nutrition

• Set for Success

• STEAM Express

• Texas Roadhouse

• Whole Heart Health

(The Livingston Parish Library does not cover product or service liability for any purchased merchandise, sale of tangible or intangible goods, transfer of property, or other transactions entered into between patrons and vendors at library-hosted events. The library is not a stakeholder or beneficiary of the proceeds of third-party vendors. The library shall be held harmless from all claims for any damaged or inferior products, incomplete services, erroneous transactions, or any other claims arising from any purchased merchandise, sale of tangible or intangible goods, transfer of property, or other transactions entered into between patrons and vendors at library-hosted events. Any claims from the aforementioned acts of sale shall be taken to the vendor for resolution by the transacting patron. The library shall not act as an emissary in any claims that may arise.)

Food Truck Participants

• The Dirty Magnolia Soda Bar

• Down South Turkey Wings & Things

• Elisa's Cuban Coffee and Kitchen

Here is the schedule for this year’s Book Festival. All events will be held inside and outside the Main Branch. 

FEATURED AUTHORS 

Shannon Kelley Atwater, children’s book author/illustrator 

• Time: 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: Meeting Room (inside) 

Shannon Kelley Atwater and Grammy Award winner Louis Michot 

• Time: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
• Location: Meeting Room (inside) 

Baptiste Paul, award-winning children’s book author, speaker, activist, and environmentalist 

• Time: 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM
• Location: Meeting Room (inside) 

Mari Mancusi, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author 

• Time: 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
• Location: Meeting Room (inside) 

Rachel M. Marsh, award-winning middle grade author 

• Time: 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
• Location: Meeting Room (inside) 

PERFORMERS 

Louis Michot & Swamp Magic 

• Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Location: Stage (outside) 

Open World Escape Room with Boomerang Comedy Theatre, a Baton Rouge-based troupe 

• Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: inside and outside 

ALL-DAY INDOOR ACTIVITIES 

The following activities will take place inside the Main Branch for the duration of Book Festival (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) or while supplies last. 

• I Spy Room (Digital Media Lab)

• Free Books (Genealogy Room)

• Balloon Twisting (Teen Section)

• Temporary Tattoo Station (Adult Section, south side of branch) 

• Crest Crafts (Adult Section, north side of branch) 

• Face Painting (Both Study Rooms)

ALL-DAY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 

The following activities will take place outside the Main Branch for the duration of Book Festival (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) or while supplies last. 

• Authors’ Row 

• Community Row

• Jump Houses 

• Joust

• Games

• Crafts (crowns and helmets) 

• Concessions

• Food Trucks