Prairie Fox Books hosts Lit Fest in Ottawa

Dozens of authors, costume parade, book sale highlight day

The second annual Literature Fest kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in Washington Square with a costume parade for children, followed by a day full of speakers and book signings.

Michelle L. Sullivan, a globally recognized leader and philanthropist who serves as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations, will speak at 10:30 a.m. and will be signing copies of her book, “Looking Up,” until noon.

Sullivan is joined by more than 40 other authors and storytellers, including Bill Myers, the Starved Rock Storyteller, who will be sharing tales from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Native American Author and Presenter Kim Sigafus also will be there, not only signing books but doing a presentation with drums and native songs.

Authors and historians featured include many locals, such as T.E. McGeorge, Carole Ledbetter, Sue Mydliak and Clara O’Neal.

Lit Fest will feature the return of the AAUW Used Book Sale, which has traditionally been conducted during Riverfest/Friendship Days, and five different mobile food vendors.

Authors slated to appear are Joelle Charbonneau, Kristi Wientge, Jill Davis, Jannifer Powelson, Jeanne Roppolo, Kathy Geiger, Kathy Hardee, JS Puller, New York Times best-seller Lynn Cahoon, Tom McKay, Monica Leskanich-Soulsby, Deb Borys, Frank May, R.C. Schulz, Ed Finch, Peggy Lindgren, Allen Ottens and brain injury survivor Rob Plaskas.

More information is available on the Prairie Fox Books Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/prairiefoxbooks

Lit Fest speaker schedule:

10 a.m. Paul Wheeler, poet

10:30 a.m.: Michele Sullivan (keynote speaker), author, philanthropist, UN delegate

11 a.m.: Joelle Charbonneau, New York Times bestselling author, young adult

11:30 a.m.: Bill Myers, Starved Rock storyteller

12:15 p.m.: Lynn Cahoon, New York Times bestselling author, mystery

12:30 p.m.: T.E. McGregor, fiction

12:45 p.m.: Jeanne Roppolo (Grandma Jeanne), author, adventurer, motivational speaker, interactive presentation for all ages

1:15 p.m.: Jill Davis, children’s literature, singing from her Beatles-inspired ABCs book

1:30 p.m.: Matthew Fish, multiple genres

1:45 p.m.: Lizzie Nelson, humorist

2 p.m.: Carole Ledbetter, columnist, public speaker

2:15 p.m.: Sue Mydliak, Gothic fiction

2:30 p.m.: Dan Klefstad, Gothic fiction

2:45 p.m.: Rachael Mellen, genealogist/historian

3 p.m.: Karen Roth, educator/librarian/Lincoln expert

3:15 p.m.: Allen Ottens, professor emeritus/historian

3:30 p.m.: Ron Bluemer, local area historian

3:45 p.m.: Peggy Lindgren, memoirist