Welcome to Volume I: Humble Beginnings. September 16-17, gather at Town Hall’s historic building for an extraordinary roster of fiction and non-fiction authors, eye-to-eye book signings, a gathering of 14 literary organizations, $10 books from featured authors (Saturday only, while supplies last!), live music, and delicious food. Festival Passes are available for Friday, Saturday, or both days. Get all the festival details and FAQs here.

Download a Digital Festival Program

On Saturday, September 17, we welcome an exciting lineup of authors:

Lan Samantha Chang | The Family Chao | 9AM

A witty portrait of three Chinese American brothers in small-town America

A.M. Homes | The Unfolding | 10:30AM

A darkly comic alternative history of the United States

David Quammen | Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus | 12PM

How scientists deciphered the COVID-19 code

Oscar Hokeah | Calling for a Blanket Dance | 1:30PM

One Indigenous family’s struggle to live honorably and love unconditionally

Leila Mottley | Nightcrawling | 3PM

A Black girl’s story of poverty, corruption, and survival

Joyce Carol Oates | Babysitter | 4:30pm

A story of love and deceit, lust and redemption

Ted Chiang | “Magic and Imaginary Science in Fiction” | 6:00pm

An exploration of human curiosity and the craft of writing science fiction

Sloane Crosley | Cult Classic | 8:00pm

Close out the festival with a nightcap and plenty of laughs as Sloane Crosley discusses her latest novel, Cult Classic

Attend the full festival for $10 featured titles (while supplies last Saturday only!) and a thrilling roster of authors. Friday 9/16, Siddhartha Mukherjee presents the opening keynote. On Saturday 9/17, festival passes include talks by Lan Samantha Chang, A.M. Homes, David Quammen, Oscar Hokeah, Leila Mottley, Joyce Carol Oates, Ted Chiang, and Sloane Crosley.

Learn more about the Town Hall Writers Festival: Volume 1 here.

Festival lineup subject to change. Presented by Town Hall Seattle.