Next month’s South Dakota Festival of Books will feature more than 60 presenting authors — from local favorites to perennial bestsellers — and myriad opportunities for bibliophiles and aspiring authors to interact with top names in the publishing industry.
Still growing after 17 years, the Festival brings together readers and writers for readings, lectures, panel discussions and book signings. South Dakota's premier literary event annually draws thousands of attendees, including approximately 5,000 students who meet children's/YA authors and illustrators at both the Festival itself and via school visits.
Each year, the Festival of Books features a common read for children and adults via the “One Book SD” program: The 2019 One Book SD is “Neither Wolf nor Dog” by Kent Nerburn, while Donald F. Montileaux of Rapid City wrote and illustrated 2019 Young Readers One Book “Tatanka and Other Legends of the Lakota People.”
Adult Lineup: Stars from all Genres
Leading up to the Festival, book clubs have read and discussed Nerburn’s “Neither Wolf nor Dog.” The 2019 One Book South Dakota tells a story of three men who learn from and about each other during an eventful road trip through tribal landscapes. Much of the narrative is based on Nerburn's conversations with an anonymous Native American elder "Dan," who asked the author to help him tell his story.
The book, which won the Minnesota Book Award and was made into a feature film, is a classic amongst book club enthusiasts and those who appreciate learning more about Native American culture.
As one of 21 non-fiction presenters who represent various areas of expertise, Nerburn will discuss the 2019 One Book during a keynote lecture and other presentations.
Another non-fiction author who’s sure to draw interest from Festivalgoers is South Dakota author Megan Phelps-Roper, a Kansas transplant and former member of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church, which is notorious for picketing soldiers’ funerals with messages like “God Hates Fags.” Phelps-Roper will discuss her new memoir "Unfollow: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving the Westboro Baptist Church," which will be released during the 2019 Festival. The book chronicles her life in Kansas from childhood through adulthood, her departure from the church during her mid 20s, and the unlikely series of events that led her to South Dakota.
Fiction Track Features Numerous Big Names
Meanwhile, J. Ryan Stradal, the 2017 One Book SD author, returns to Deadwood as a rising star in the world of commercial fiction. His July 2019 release “The Lager Queen of Minnesota” was one of the hottest titles of the summer and landed on bestseller lists amongst powerhouse authors like Colson Whitehead and Delia Owens.
Heather Graham and Craig Johnson are household names among mystery/thriller enthusiasts in the U.S. and beyond. Graham is making her first Festival of Books appearance, while Johnson will be warmly welcomed as a returning author. His “Longmire” novels are perennial bestsellers and have become a popular TV show featured on both A&E and Netflix. Graham, who has spent numerous weeks on the NYT Bestseller list throughout her career, has published more than 200 novels and novellas, including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. She’s earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America, among other honors.
Young Readers Events held in Rapid City Oct. 3, Deadwood Oct. 4-5
Montileaux leads the Young Readers lineup along with another well-known Black Hills resident, Sean Covel. The Edgemont native, who’s appeared at previous iterations of the Deadwood event to discuss his life as a prominent movie producer — most famously of the cult classic “Napoleon Dynamite”— returns with popular children’s book “Porter the Hoarder,” a collaboration with illustrator Rebecca Swift. Covel lives in Deadwood while Swift lives in Bridgewater, S.D. Young Readers events featuring Montileaux, Covel, Swift and many others will be held in Rapid City on Thursday, Oct. 3 and continuing in Deadwood Oct. 4-5.
South Dakota Authors Featured
In addition to Phelps-Roper, Covel and Montileaux, there are a number of other authors featured at the 2019 event who either reside in South Dakota, are from South Dakota, or who have other connections to the state. Those authors are as follows:
- Stephanie Anderson
- Molly Barari
- Joseph Bottum
- Sandra Brannan
- Robin Carmody
- Ann Charles
- Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
- Sean Covel
- Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
- Nick Estes
- Josh Garrett-Davis
- Patrick Hicks
- Paul Higbee
- Betty Jo Huff
- Bill Markley
- Donald F. Montileaux
- Megan Phelps-Roper
- Alex Portal
- Jim Reese
- Jessie Rencountre
- Lee Ann Roripaugh
- Bruce Roseland
- Molly Rozum
- Jon Schaff
- Sean Sherman
- Christine Stewart-Nunez
- Rebecca Swift
- Craig Tschetter
- Sally Roesch Wagner
- Jerry Wilson
- Norma Wilson
- Steven Wingate
- Eric Zimmer
