Tuesday, September 19, 2023

The Livingston Parish Library is thrilled to announce # 1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Eric Litwin as the headliner for this year’s Livingston Parish Book Festival.

Litwin is a song-singing, guitar-strumming author who brings early literacy and music together. He is the original author of the “Pete the Cat” series as well as the author of “The Nuts,” “Groovy Joe,” and “The Poop Song.”

Litwin’s books have sold more than 13 million copies, been translated into 17 languages, and won 26 literacy awards, including a Theodor Geisel Seuss Honor Award. 

In addition to being an accomplished author, Litwin is a multi-talented, award-winning musician who plays guitar, harmonica, and sings. He has eight award-winning music CDs. 

“We’ve had many exceptional authors participate in our Book Festival over the years, but Eric Litwin goes straight to the top of the list,” said Livingston Parish Library Director Michelle Parrish. “We are thrilled to be able to bring in the talents of someone like Eric for our Livingston Parish community. We know all who attend this year’s Livingston Parish Book Festival will enjoy Eric’s engaging, energetic, and positive performance.”

Litwin will be one of dozens of authors and performers attending the Eighth Annual Livingston Parish Book Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at the Main Branch in Livingston, located at 20390 Iowa Street, Livingston, LA, 70754.

The event is hosted by the Livingston Parish Library, which is planning for the biggest Book Festival yet.

First held in 2013, the Book Festival features author discussions, book signings, live music, food, face painting, games, and other activities. Visitors will also be able to utilize any of the library’s resources.

The Book Festival is free and open to the public, and all attendees will receive a free book while supplies last. All other branches of the Livingston Parish Library will be closed on Oct. 21.

Litwin will be one of three featured authors for this year’s Book Festival, along with adult writer Ellen Byron and young adult writer Sarah Guillory.

Byron is an award-winning mystery author who has written the “Cajun Country Mystery” series, the “Vintage Cookbook Mysteries” series, the “Catering Hall Mysteries” series (under Maria DiRico), and the forthcoming “Golden Motel Mysteries” series, set for release in 2024.

Guillory is a high school English teacher and author from the Baton Rouge area whose middle-grade debut “Nowhere Better Than Here” was named a Kirkus’ Reviews Best Book of the Year, a CBC Best Book of the Year, and was the International Literacy Association’s Intermediate Fiction Winner. “Nowhere Better Than Here” was one of two books chosen to represent Louisiana in the 2023 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

For musical entertainment, visitors will be treated to the exceptional talents of Ashton Gill, a 25-year-old singer/songwriter from Livingston Parish who won over thousands of fans during her star-turning audition on American Idol in 2018.

Ashton has been actively writing, recording, and performing her music all over the U.S. In 2021, she landed the role of a musician named Sara Tolleson in the independent feature film “The Author.”

Visitors will also be able to interact with Bee Happy Farm and Mobile Petting Zoo, a locally-owned, family-friendly business in Holden; and Danielle Kent’s real-life replica of the Mystery Machine, the famed vehicle of beloved animated character Scooby-Doo. 

“We have a wide variety of authors, entertainers, performers, activities, games, and so much more scheduled for this year’s Livingston Parish Book Festival,” said Head of Community Engagement Kyla Robertson. “We are confident there will be something for everyone who attends. Let’s make this the biggest year yet!”

For more information, visit www.mylpl.info/BookFestival or call the Livingston Parish Library at (225) 686-4100.