2015 Decatur Book Festival

Saturday, September 5, 2015

After spending the morning at DragonCon in downtown Atlanta, I headed over to Decatur for the annual Decatur Book Festival. Authors from all over the country as well as local and regional wordsmiths came out to visit with their fans, sign books and talk on panels covering everything from teens, romance, emerging artists, cooking, non-fiction and so much more.

The festival has grown to be the largest independent book festival in the country and one of the five largest overall. Since its launch, more than 1,000 world-class authors and hundreds of thousands of festival-goers have crowded the historic downtown Decatur square to enjoy everything the festival has to offer.

Surrounded by stacks of books, Jasmyn Stamper (left) waits in line to have them signed during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Surrounded by stacks of books, Jasmyn Stamper (left) waits in line to have them signed during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Author David Levithan (left) speaks to the crowd about his newest book while on the Teen Stage with Will Walton during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author David Levithan (left) speaks to the crowd about his newest book while on the Teen Stage with Will Walton during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Rachel Buckley (left) listens to author David Levithan speak during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Rachel Buckley (left) listens to author David Levithan speak during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author David Levithan holds his newest book as he speaks to the crowd during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Author David Levithan holds his newest book as he speaks to the crowd during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Debbie Todd (center left) and Daniela Todd walk past tents upon tents of books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Debbie Todd (center left) and Daniela Todd walk past tents upon tents of books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Cat Cora, the first female Iron Chef, signs books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Cat Cora, the first female Iron Chef, signs books during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Annie Marquardt sounds out the titles of books on a poster during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Annie Marquardt sounds out the titles of books on a poster during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Linda McLoud (center) looks for books to buy in one of the numerous tents at the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Linda McLoud (center) looks for books to buy in one of the numerous tents at the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Dora Charles lays some fried cornbread, or hoecakes as she grew up calling them, on a plate during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Dora Charles lays some fried cornbread, or hoecakes as she grew up calling them, on a plate during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Simone Hanson (left) and Emily Zeigler discuss a book written by Deborah Tannen during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Simone Hanson (left) and Emily Zeigler discuss a book written by Deborah Tannen during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Tiah Rodriguez - Crawl (right) speaks to the crowd during her time on the Emerging Writer's stage during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Tiah Rodriguez – Crawl (right) speaks to the crowd during her time on the Emerging Writer’s stage during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Jean Tomlinson looks for books to buy during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Jean Tomlinson looks for books to buy during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Author Jamie Brickhouse speaks to the crowd about his newest book during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author Jamie Brickhouse speaks to the crowd about his newest book during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author Jamie Brickhouse (left) is introduced to the crowd by John Lemley during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Author Jamie Brickhouse (left) is introduced to the crowd by John Lemley during the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Author Emilie Bush (left) talks with Chrisy Strum, her husband Lee and Peter B. Slayer during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author Emilie Bush (left) talks with Chrisy Strum, her husband Lee and Peter B. Slayer during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

John Sakers (center) looks for books to buy in one of the numerous tents at the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

John Sakers (center) looks for books to buy in one of the numerous tents at the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Joyce Farmer - Brown (left) checks out Rebecca Gilbert's book It's Easy to Start Eating Vegan during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Joyce Farmer – Brown (left) checks out Rebecca Gilbert’s book It’s Easy to Start Eating Vegan during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Promise Williams (center), talks about Pepper Storm, the character she inspired her mother to create, during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Promise Williams (center), talks about Pepper Storm, the character she inspired her mother to create, during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Dena Mellick (right) reads a selection from Decaturish's columnist Nicki Salcedo's new book Intersections during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Dena Mellick (right) reads a selection from Decaturish’s columnist Nicki Salcedo’s new book Intersections during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Kayla Maddon (left) and Nicolette Paglioni look for books to but during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Kayla Maddon (left) and Nicolette Paglioni look for books to but during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Sascha Blanchford finishes her popsicle while sitting on the cannon outside of the Historic Dekalb County Courthouse during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Sascha Blanchford finishes her popsicle while sitting on the cannon outside of the Historic Dekalb County Courthouse during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Flanked by Decaturish's Dena Mellick (left) and Dan Whisenhunt, columnist Nicki Salcedo (right) reads a selection from her new book Intersections during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Flanked by Decaturish’s Dena Mellick (left) and Dan Whisenhunt, columnist Nicki Salcedo (right) reads a selection from her new book Intersections during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Scott Butterfield gets eye level with some books during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Scott Butterfield gets eye level with some books during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author Leisa Rich speaks to the crowd while on the Emerging Writers Stage during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.

Author Leisa Rich speaks to the crowd while on the Emerging Writers Stage during the Decatur Book Festival on Saturday.