AJC Decatur Book Festival

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Decatur was invaded on Saturday by the love of everything books. The ninth annual AJC Decatur Book Festival saw tens of thousands of people come out to the downtown Decatur area to meet with world-class authors, illustrators, editors, publishers, booksellers, and artists for a weekend filled with literature, music, food, art, and fun. The two day festival saw authors and editors discussing new works and old favorites on stages throughout the downtown area. People got to meet with some of their favorite word smiths and have their books signed including Pat Conroy, Ron Rash, Lauren Myracle, Len Vlahos, Jennifer Armentrout and Adele Griffin just to name a few. Booksellers including University of Georgia Press, Emory University, Barnes & Noble and all sorts of smaller, more local merchants had tents set up throughout the streets with thousands upon thousands of books for sale. It was a veritable smorgasbord of literature throughout the Labor Day Weekend and definitely something to check out next year!

Hundreds of people listen as John Lang (right) and Ron Rash discuss Lang's brand new book analyzing Rash's body of work during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Hundreds of people listen as John Lang (right) and Ron Rash discuss Lang’s brand new book analyzing Rash’s body of work during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Ron Rash (left) and John Lang discuss Lang's brand new book analyzing Rash's body of work during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Ron Rash (left) and John Lang discuss Lang’s brand new book analyzing Rash’s body of work during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Jann Knowles looks at one of thousands of books for sale during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Jann Knowles looks at one of thousands of books for sale during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Catherine Brehm (left) and her daughter Margaret look at a schedule as they plan their next stop during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Catherine Brehm (left) and her daughter Margaret look at a schedule as they plan their next stop during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Dashill Smith (center), Kebbi Williams (left) and Steve Coleman perform during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Dashill Smith (center), Kebbi Williams (left) and Steve Coleman perform during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

August Murray plays a trumpet during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

August Murray plays a trumpet during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Lisa Goldman (left) and Mary Lynn Gaines (right) look through boxes of children's books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Lisa Goldman (left) and Mary Lynn Gaines (right) look through boxes of children’s books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Will Skelton (right), Alex Towers, Lauren Chamblin, Allie Southwood and Brittany Ellis perform on one of the numerous stages during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Will Skelton (right), Alex Towers, Lauren Chamblin, Allie Southwood and Brittany Ellis perform on one of the numerous stages during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Authors Adele Griffin (center), Jennifer Mathieu (left) and Jennifer Armentrout discuss their books with fans during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Authors Adele Griffin (center), Jennifer Mathieu (left) and Jennifer Armentrout discuss their books with fans during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Lauren Myracle (right) signs a copy of her book for Hannah Mains during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Lauren Myracle (right) signs a copy of her book for Hannah Mains during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Rebekah Hart (right) and her son Jack look at books on Egyptology at one of the booths during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Rebekah Hart (right) and her son Jack look at books on Egyptology at one of the booths during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Smruthi Balasubramaniam (left) fills in the answer to a giant crossword puzzle during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Smruthi Balasubramaniam (left) fills in the answer to a giant crossword puzzle during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Len Vlahos (right) signs copies of his book during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Len Vlahos (right) signs copies of his book during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Judy Moore (right) is held by her father Leighton as he looks at a children's book during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Judy Moore (right) is held by her father Leighton as he looks at a children’s book during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Jack Marrah walks through downtown Decatur during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Jack Marrah walks through downtown Decatur during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Frank Reiss (center) helps customers at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution booth during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Frank Reiss (center) helps customers at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution booth during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Author Pat Conroy signs books for fans during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Author Pat Conroy signs books for fans during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Cheryl Peavyhouse (left) shakes hands with author Pat Conroy as he signs books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Cheryl Peavyhouse (left) shakes hands with author Pat Conroy as he signs books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Authors Andrew Smith (left) and Jennifer E. Smith talk inside the hospitality suite during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Authors Andrew Smith (left) and Jennifer E. Smith talk inside the hospitality suite during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

David Darracott sticks his face through a wall of portraits during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

David Darracott sticks his face through a wall of portraits during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Linda Adams (left) and her husband Richard shake hands with author Pat Conroy as he signs books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Linda Adams (left) and her husband Richard shake hands with author Pat Conroy as he signs books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Sylvia Jensen looks through piles of books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Sylvia Jensen looks through piles of books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Lindsay Tewell writes a poem on the sidewalk using chalk during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Lindsay Tewell writes a poem on the sidewalk using chalk during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Author Pat Conroy (right) signs a book for Sophie Peck as her mother Brigitte takes a photo with her phone during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Author Pat Conroy (right) signs a book for Sophie Peck as her mother Brigitte takes a photo with her phone during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Raymond Atkins (right), his wife Marsha and Cat Blanco talk inside the hospitality suite during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Raymond Atkins (right), his wife Marsha and Cat Blanco talk inside the hospitality suite during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Diogo Richards hangs out on the barrel of the cannon outside of the historic courthouse during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Diogo Richards hangs out on the barrel of the cannon outside of the historic courthouse during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Bee Nahmias tries to identify a weed that has been growing in her yard by looking through a book on plant life during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Bee Nahmias tries to identify a weed that has been growing in her yard by looking through a book on plant life during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Sadie Walker thumbs through a section of children's books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Sadie Walker thumbs through a section of children’s books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Brys Stephens (right) demonstrates how to cook using pablano peppers as Atlanta Journal-Constitution dining critic, John Kessler, watches during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Brys Stephens (right) demonstrates how to cook using poblano peppers as Atlanta Journal-Constitution dining critic, John Kessler, watches during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, August 30, 2014.