Word
/ AJC DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
by Ellie Butterfield
The AJC Decatur Book Festival Rises Again Long-awaited festival focuses on local Atlanta authors and artists this year THE RENAISSANCE we’ve all been waiting for, October marks the return of the AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by Emory University. The event has a legacy of sparking curiosity and excitement around reading, writing and other variations on the written and spoken word. Since 2006, the festival has served as a hub of this writing buzz by connecting people of all walks with authors, good reads and local businesses each Labor Day weekend. COVID-19 complications put this literary community gathering to the test, prompting the team to make some crucial adaptations to keep the festival spirit alive.
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According to festival organizer Jeff Steely, the pandemic brought on significant, but temporary, restructuring of the festival. “Last year, due to COVID-19, the AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by Emory University shifted from the typical big street fair to an ambitious online event,” Steely said. “It was very well received, but not a sustainable model, especially as so many of us have developed ‘zoom fatigue.’” Now, with widespread re-evaluations of public safety standards, the festival faced new challenges. “With the uncertainty around the pandemic, the board initially considered hitting
the pause button for this year,” Steely explained. “However, as vaccines became widely available and several other Decatur festivals were looking to resume the in-person experience, we decided to pursue a middle course – to present a carefully – curated, small-scale event.” This more contained festival will consist of six sessions throughout Saturday, Oct. 2, pooling the creative genius of eight authors, two illustrators and select talented moderators at the First Baptist Church of Decatur. The 2021 festival’s theme is “Diverse Voices Building Community,” with sessions ranging from political analysis to children’s illustration.
