North Georgia Regional Book Fair

The North Georgia Regional Book Fair celebrates emerging and aspiring writers from the Southeast by promoting literacy, creative writing, and community connection. The goals of the book fair are to provide a platform for regional voices, foster a love of reading, encourage future writers, and support a vibrant literary culture across our region.

The Dahlonega Literary Festival and the UNG Department of English are pleased to announce the third annual North Georgia Regional Book Fair on September 12, 2026, which will feature over 70 regional writers. This FREE event will feature authors of all genres. Authors will have their latest works on display and will also host panels and presentations. The event includes a BINGO game and door prizes, student vendors, and concessions. There will also be a children’s reading hour featuring Ellie, the service dog.

The featured authors for the event are Lynn Cullen, author of When We Were Brilliant (2026), and Jenn Lyons, author of Green & Deadly Things (2026). Cullen’s most recent novel, historical fiction, traces the relationship between Marilyn Monroe and photographer Eve Arnold. Cullen has several national and internationally bestselling novels and has received several honors, including the NPR Great Read, the ALA Best Book of the Year, and the Oprah Book of the Week. For more about Lynn Cullen, visit https://lynncullen.com/about/. Jenn Lyons’ Chorus of Dragons series is a set of five fantasy fiction novels featuring Kihrin, a thief from the slums of Quur who discovers his royal origins and becomes embroiled in a political saga where the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Her most recent novel, Green & Deadly Things, follows Mathaiik who must save the world from the forces of undead wizards. For more about Lyons, visit https://jennlyons.com/.

Author Heather Thompson, who will be back for the third time this year, stated, “The North Georgia Regional Book Fair is a must attend for me as a local indie author because so many self-published writers go unseen day-to-day. This event allows independent authors to shine and elevates those of us doing it on our own."

Another author who has participated every year is Jason Wetzel, who said, “The Book Fair at the University of North Georgia is truly a one of a kind community gathering—bringing authors, illustrators, and readers from across all Georgia together in a shared celebration of creativity and storytelling. Dr. Getty has done a remarkable job shaping this event into something vibrant, welcoming, and exceptionally well organized.

As a participating author, I am genuinely honored to be part of this experience and to showcase my work in such a colorful, upbeat, and professional setting. Hosting the fair at UNG adds an extra measure of distinction; the university’s statewide and national reputation gives every author a meaningful boost and affirms the importance of our work. I am grateful to contribute to an event that reflects the best of UNG’s spirit—community minded, uplifting, and committed to the arts.”

Participants can also view The Bayeux Tapestry replica, one of only three in the world. This magnificent 224-foot tapestry is an exact replica of the original French tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings in October 1066. This event has something for everyone—readers, writers, art enthusiasts, and the just plain curious. Visit the web site for more details!

For more information, see the website: https://www.literaryfestival.org/sept2026bookfair

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