Houston (March 28, 2017) – Book lovers, writers and storytellers are invited to attend the Bayou City Book Festival, sponsored by Lone Star College. The festival is a weeklong event in April featuring nationally and internationally known fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, graphic novelists, writing workshops, exhibits and more.

“The Bayou City Book Festival is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to come together and experience the power of words,” said Chelsie Meredith, BCBF director. “Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and hear from some very talented authors as well as experience free fun-filled activities for adults and children, readings and panel discussions.

The festival takes place the week of April 3 at LSC campuses throughout north and northwest Houston, culminating in a daylong event at LSC-Kingwood Saturday, April 8.

A conversation with two best-selling female mystery authors, Meg Gardiner and Heather Graham, is the featured afternoon keynote event Saturday, April 8. Gardiner is an Edgar Award-winning American crime writer best known for her Evan Delaney novels. Graham is a best-selling American writer who has penned more than 150 novels.

The evening keynote event, presented by W.W. Norton, features Dr. Katherine Persson, LSC-Kingwood president and Dr. Elizabeth Corey, Baylor associate of Political Science. They will discuss “Double Bind: Women on Ambition”, a book of essays showing women from a range of backgrounds and at all stages of their lives grappling with aspiration, failure and success.

Other featured authors scheduled to appear include Nicole Dennis-Benn, “Here Comes the Sun”; Chad Conine, “The Republic of Football: Legends of the Texas High School Game”; Sarah Cortez, “Vanishing Points: Poems and Photographs of Texas Roadside Memorials”; Jon Land, “Strong Cold Dead”; David Romdvedt, “Dilemmas of the Angels”; and Robin Wells, “The French War Bride.”

A full list of featured authors and panelists can be found by visiting LoneStar.edu/Book-Festival.

A weeklong series of events takes place leading up to the Saturday festival including “Mysteries on Monday” at LSC-Montgomery; “Romance: A Genre for All” at LSC-University Park; “Creative Writers” at LSC-CyFair; “Dia de Los Libros” at LSC-North Harris; and “Family Fun Night” at LSC-Creekside Center.

Visit LoneStar.edu/Book-Festival for a complete list of events.

“Lone Star College is a proud community partner,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC-Chancellor. “The Bayou City Book Festival is one way of giving back and saying thank you for all the support we have received over the years.”

The Bayou City Book Festival will also include special presentations by LSC student writers, contributors from Houston Family Magazine and doctors from Memorial Hermann-Humble. Children of all ages will be able to enjoy story hour authors, reading from their works and introducing young and old alike to the wonderful world of books.

Admission is free for the festival and memberships are available which provide priority seating to all events, jump ahead lines for author signings and early entrance to all festival events. Free parking is available and food trucks will be on hand.

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 95,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of $3.1 billion. LSC consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.