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!

Calling all local authors and community organizations! The Livingston Parish Library is officially accepting applications for the 10th Annual Livingston Parish Book Festival! 

This year's festival will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Main Branch in Livingston. The deadline to submit an application is Wednesday, October 15, 2025. 

For an opportunity to participate in this year's event, submit an application via the Author or Community Organization Form; a member of the Book Festival Committee will contact you with information regarding your application. You may contact us directly at 225-686-4100 for any questions or assistance. 

Please note: Applying does not guarantee acceptance; applicants will be contacted to confirm participation. Community organizations wishing to participate in the Livingston Parish Book Fest must offer services that directly affect Livingston Parish residents. 

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.

COMING SOON

(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.)

COMING SOON

(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.)

COMING SOON

(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.)