Book lovers have something to look forward to next month with the return of the Burlington County Book Festival at the Burlington County Library.
Now in its third year, the celebration of books, authors and illustrators is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, from 10 AM to 4 PM, at the Main Branch Library, 5 Pioneer Boulevard, Westampton. The free event offers visitors of all ages opportunities to discover new books and writers while having fun celebrating the world of literature.
The popular event is co-hosted by the Burlington County Library System and Burlington County Library System Foundation with support from the Burlington County Commissioners and event sponsors, Holman and PSE&G.
“Even in the modern digital age, the power of books endures,” said Burlington County Commissioner Tom Pullion, the liaison to the Burlington Couty Library System. “Books help inform and teach. They inspire and spark imagination and allow us to better understand ourselves and the world around us. The Burlington County Book Festival celebrates these timeless qualities and how our libraries provide access to these treasures.”
More than 40 authors from all genres of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s literature are signed up to participate in the 2025 festival. They will be available to discuss, autograph and sell their work.
There will also be presentations, panels and performances throughout the day, including a keynote address from renown, best-selling DC Comics and TV writer, Tee Franklin.
“We are thrilled to welcome another exciting group of diverse and talented authors to the library, including some fan favorites who have participated in our previous festivals, as well as some newcomers who are eager to introduce themselves and share their work for the first time,” said Burlington County Library System Director Ranjna Das.
Franklin’s keynote address will be at 12:30 PM in the library’s auditorium and will cover her experience as a Black, queer, disabled and autistic writer and her work writing for comics and television. A New Jersey resident, Franklin is best known for writing a DC Comics Harley Quinn series that was a No. 1 hit on Amazon and nominated for a GLADD Media Award in 2022. She is the first Black women to write both Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy and the first to author multiple series by Image Comics.
Some of the other featured presentations at Burlington County Book Festival include:
- A Meet the Author panel at 10:30 AM featuring romance and cozy mystery writer Tina Gabrielle/Kashian; romances authors Christy Schillig and Martia K. Alexander and author/illustrator Jay Cooper.
- Poet Nancy Reddy, a contributor and co-editor of the The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood, will read excerpts from her new book The Good Mother Myth at 11 AM.
- Allen Crawford, award-winning illustrator, naturalist and trail steward for the New Jerey Park Service, will discuss his new book Whitman Illuminated: Song of Myself, an illustrated edition of Whitmans epic poem. His presentation is at 11:30 AM.
- Jay Cooper -- author and illustrator of more than 25 books, including bestsellers The Last Comics On Earth and Your Guide To Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village – will deliver a humor-filled, interactive presentation about his creative process at 11:30 AM.
- Kerri Sullivan, editor of the award-winning anthology, New Jerey Fan Club: Artists and Writers Celebrate the Garden State, will discuss managing a collaborative book and provide tips for nonfiction proposals and promotion. Her presentation will be at 1:30 PM.
In addition to the presentations and meet-and-greets with authors and illustrators, attendees will be able to shop for gently-used books during the Friends of the Burlington County Library Inc.’s pop-up book sale. There will also be vendors selling items and information tables from groups, such as the NJ Center for the Book, New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center, Booktoverts Silent Book Club, South Jersey Writers Group and eSpec Books.
A full schedule of activities and authors attending the festival is available on the BCLS website at www.bcls.lib.nj.us .
“The Burlington County Library System was created more than a century ago to give local residents more opportunities to access books and all their benefits, and our libraries continue to be a first-choice destination for books and so much more,” said Commissioner Randy Brolo. “The Book Festival is one of the library’s premier events, so mark your calendar and come to the library on April 5th for this fun mix of entertainment and discovery.”