Cape Fear Book Festival features writing workshops, local author book fair

Wilmington’s literary scene spans from career writers to leisurely storytellers, and the third annual Cape Fear Book Festival is open to all local wordsmiths and bookworms. The weekend of Nov. 21, the New Hanover County Main Branch Library downtown will welcome seasoned authors, newcomers, and general lovers of reading for several page-turning events.

New Hanover County Library organizes this two-day festival, which features one day of workshops and a local book fair the second day. The idea for the Cape Fear Book Festival came about when Christine Ingram, the current Library Manager for Teen Services, noticed a consistent missing link amongst the local authors while in her previous role as Local Interest Librarian. “Every week, I was having authors come in to donate their books to the local author donation collection,” Ingram said. “I heard over and over again, ‘Do you see other authors? Do you know any other authors?”  

Key Takeaways

The bigger picture:

• Attendance grew from 500 people in the festival’s first year to 780 last year, and the event has helped inspire writing groups that continue meeting throughout the year.

The details:

• Nov. 21: The first day includes writing workshops and a keynote address featuring publishing industry leaders.
• Nov. 22: Sixty local writers will sell books and meet readers in the downtown library’s lobby.

The more you know:

• Preregistration is required for the Nov. 21 workshop day.
• Those interested in volunteering or finding additional information can visit capefearbookfestival.org.

Ingram said she was encountering hundreds of local writers who were expressing an interest in finding one another. “We didn’t have anything to really bring them all together at the time … I strongly believe that’s what the library is: it’s a connection point for the community,” she said. In its first year, the festival had 500 attendees across both days, and last year, the numbers increased to 780. “This is a really, really, special event,” Ingram said. “Out of the festival, writing groups have sprung up, and these writers are able to maintain relationships all throughout the year.”

The first day of the upcoming festival, which is sponsored by Friends of the Library, features two writing workshops in the morning, and each session offers three different options. The first workshop session will have three offerings focused on publishing and will cover information on local publishers, indie presses and larger, national ones. The second session spotlights three literary genres: historical fiction, memoirs, and children’s literature. Workshop leaders include New York Times bestseller Nina de Gramont, and Angela Guzman, a senior editor at Harper Collins.  

A keynote speaker will follow the morning workshop sessions. Award-winning writer Teri M. Brown will give a talk on book marketing – approaching the topic from a realistic perspective – and speak from her own experience. The day’s final workshop immediately follows: Exploring the Possibilities and Ramifications of Using Generative AI for Writing.  

On Nov. 22 – the second day of the festival – 60 local writers will set up shop in the main library’s lobby. Fellow writers, readers, or general community supporters can swing by, peruse local books and speak directly to the authors. Ingram said the Cape Fear Book Festival welcomes any published author in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender county, including self-published writers. “For many of them, this is their first chance to sell their book,” Ingram said. “Come stop by and find your new favorite writer.”

Preregistration is required for the workshop day, and vendor applications for the book fair are currently full. The Cape Fear Book Festival also functions with the help of volunteers; those interested can sign up at capefearbookfestival.org.