The third annual Festival of Books will take place at the Bakersfield College gymnasium on Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Headlining the event is J.A. Jance, a New York Times best-selling author, who will be speaking about her latest book, “Justice Denied,” as well as signing autographs.
“It is a dream to have J.A. Jance coming to Bakersfield,” said Kern Adult Literacy Council executive director Donna Hylton. “I am a big fan of hers and have read almost every book she has ever written.”
Jance is known for her horror and mystery novels, such as “Web of Evil” and “Dead Wrong.” Many of her novels focus on three characters: Diana Ladd Walker; J.P. Beaumont, a retired officer from the Seattle Police Department; and Joanna Brady, the sheriff of a small Arizona town.
Joining Jance will be children’s author Myron Uhlberg, impressionist painter Gita Lloyd (who has illustrated such books as “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “The Lion King”), local author Rick Van Horne, author and illustrator of children’s books Cherie Zendarski, and novelist and short story writer Rebecca Buckley.
“The tickets are going like hotcakes,” said Hylton. “The Kern Adult Literacy Council is so excited about having The Bakersfield Californian Festival of Books at BC this year.”
According to Hylton, the Kern Adult Literacy Council is expecting around 5,000 attendees at this “come and go event.”
“It raised $32,000 for the council last year,” continued Hylton. “The festival is modeled after the L.A. Times Festival of Books.”
Tickets are currently on sale for $10 per adult, $8 per student with ID and seniors, and $5 per child under the age of 12. Tickets can be purchased at any Russo’s Books locations, the BC ticket office or the Kern Adult Literacy Council.
All proceeds will benefit the Kern Adult Literacy Council.