Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Author Sarah Guillory, who penned the critically-acclaimed novel “Nowhere Better Than Here,” will be the featured young adult author at this year’s Livingston Parish Book Festival.

Guillory, a high school English teacher and author from the Baton Rouge area, has received much praise and recognition for “Nowhere Better Than Here,” which was her middle-grade debut. The book 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” also earned starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist. Additionally, it was one of two books chosen to represent Louisiana in the 2023 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Guillory’s debut young-adult novel, “Reclaimed,” garnered the GOLD 2013 Foreword Book of the Year and the SILVER 2014 IPPY Book Award, both in Young Adult Fiction. “Reclaimed” was also named to the 2016 Louisiana Teen Reader’s Choice Award List as well as ALA’s 2016 Most Popular Paperbacks for Young Readers. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and dogs.

Guillory will be one of the headlining authors for 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.

Hosted by the Livingston Parish Library, the Book Festival features author discussions, book signings, live music, food, 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 all, and all attendees will receive a free book while supplies last.

Other announced guests are Ellen Byron, an award-winning mystery author; 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. 

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

You can also follow the Livingston Parish Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for regular updates on the Livingston Parish Book Festival. Headlining authors and performers will be announced over the coming weeks.