Nantucket Book Festival

Join us for the Nantucket Book Festival Discover A Weekend Of Literary Wonder.

The Nantucket Book Festival is an annual celebration of the literary arts that brings together authors, book lovers, and storytellers. For one exciting weekend each June, the island of Nantucket transforms into a book lover's paradise, featuring a captivating lineup of author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and book signings..

Festival Schedule

Friday, June 14

Erik Larson with Linda Henry

9:00AM - 9:45AM, Methodist Church‍

Join best-selling historian Erik Larson and CEO of Boston Globe Media, Linda Henry as they discuss Erik's latest book published in April of this year, The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War. A master of narrative nonfiction, Erik will also touch on his writing process and some of his other iconic books; The Devil in the White City, The Splendid and the Vile, and The Garden of Beasts.

Trish O’Kane with Kitty Pochman

10:00AM - 10:45AM, Methodist Church‍

Trish O'Kane is the author of the recently published Birding to Change the World: A Memoir and an inspiring tale of climate activism where birds were the catalyst for the author to organize in defense of the places she loves. Trish currently serves as Senior Lecturer of Environmental Justice at the University of Vermont. Prior to her position at UVM, Trish worked as a human rights journalist in Central America and the Deep South and as a teacher in Alabama's Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. Trish will be in conversation with Kitty Pochman, Executive Director of the Linda Loring Foundation to discuss her incredible journey teaching ornithology, college students, and middle schoolers, and her lifelong learning and activism beyond the classroom.

Paul Harding with Ann Sullivan

11:00AM - 11:45AM, Methodist Church‍

Paul Harding is the author of a number of books, including the Pulitzer winning Tinkers. His latest book is the extraordinary This Other Eden, nominated for the Booker Prize, the National Book Award and the Dublin Literary Award. He is now the Director of the MFA in Creative Writing and Literature at Stony Brook University. It will come as no surprise to those who have read his work that Paul Harding is also a musician. His writing sings with gorgeous, lyrical prose. This Other Eden is inspired by the true story of Malaga Island, a small island off the coast of Maine, home to one of the first racially integrated communities in New England. Paul will be in conversation with Nantucket Book Foundation Vice President, Ann Sullivan.

LUNCH

Steven Rowley with Tim Ehrenberg

‍1:00PM- 1:45PM, Methodist Church‍

Steven Rowley is the New York Times best-selling author of Lily and the Octopus, The Guncle, The Celebrants, and just released, The Guncle Abroad. Steven and Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books will dive into all the author's tales of friendship, the complicated bond of family, the importance of queer voices, and the power of love infused with his signature heart and humor.

Bianca Bosker with Michael Schulder‍

2:00PM - 2:45PM, Methodist Church

Journalist Bianca Bosker's first book, Cork Dork, takes a deep dive into the world of wines and was an immediate best seller. Recently, the Wall Street Journal tagged the best five book about wine, and CORK DORK was one of those five! Her new book, Get the Picture, A  Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists & Obsessive  Art Friends Who Taught Me How to See is another best-seller. Bianca worked as a security guard at museums, she threw herself into galleries, studios, talked to apprentices and collectors, and she visited the homes of billionaires. Her purpose: to learn why art matters and how we could engage with it more deeply. Bianca will be in conversation with former Senior Executive Producer for CNN, founder of Wavemaker Conversation's Podcast, and Nantucket Book Foundation Board Director, Michael Schulder.

Sara DiVello with Mary Haft

3:00PM - 3:45PM, Methodist Church

Sara DiVello is a true crime writer and the creator/host of Mystery and Thriller Mavens, a popular author interview series and interactive Facebook group, and Co-Chair of this year’s Nantucket Book Festival. Her latest book, Broadway Butterfly: A Thriller, was an Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Book and a CBS New York Book Club Pick. Broadway Butterfly is a true-crime novel set in the roaring 1920’s and is based on one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the era, that of flapper Dot King. Sara will be in conversation with her partner Co-Chair of the Book Festival, Co-Founder of the Nantucket Book Foundation and Board member, Mary Haft.

Ben Mezrich with Linda Henry

4:00PM - 4:45PM, Methodist Church

Ben Mezrich is the New York Times bestselling author of Breaking Twitter, Dumb Money, and other stories characterized by cinematic and unique true stories of young geniuses battling their way through the gray area between right and wrong, and succeeding at all costs. Ben will be joined in conversation by co-owner and CEO of Boston Globe Media, Linda Henry.

Margaret Atwood with Heather Reisman and Louise Dennys

6:30PM - 7:30PM, First Congregational Church

Globally renowned and critically acclaimed author, Margaret Atwood, will be joined in conversation with Founder & CEO of Indigo, Heather Reisman, and Atwood’s longtime publisher & editor Louise Dennys, Publisher Emerita, Penguin Random House Canada. We expect this event to fill to capacity. No registration is required as originally advertised and entry is FREE, but there is limited seating so please be prepared. Doors will open at 5:30PM and we will fill the space to its capacity.

Please do not start lining up until 5:30PM.

Note: There is no preregistration for this event as previously advertised. People will be seated on a first come first served basis.

Nantucket Book Festival Author Dinner

7:30PM - 10:00PM, White Elephant Ballroom

Enjoy a sumptuous buffet dinner while rubbing elbows with your favorite authors. The Dinner, presented by The White Elephant Hotel, is the perfect ending to a day filled with inspiring author conversations. As the only event designed to fundraise for the Book Festival, your ticket purchase helps to keep most of our events free and open to everyone. Purchase tickets HERE.

Click here for register

Date: June 13 - 16, 2024