Welcome to the 2023 Sunshine State Book Festival—bringing readers and writers together again for the fourth year. Our 2023 festival will feature 150 authors writing in 15 genres. Their photos are displayed alphabetically on the 2023 Authors page. Over a third of them have won literary awards.
This year’s keynote address will be given by Janis Owens, notable author of four novels, a regional cookbook, and a book of nonfiction. She will speak on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Learn more about Janis below.
New in 2023, presentations by over two-dozen participating festival authors:
See Events for starting times.
Hourly prize drawings during the Saturday festival.
You don’t have to be a book author to be part of the Book Festival. Volunteers are needed for both days. Meet and mingle with the authors while providing an invaluable service. Click here to sign up.
A book festival is a celebration of learning and literacy that should be fun as well as educational, bringing together people of all ages who share a love of reading and who will leave the event inspired by their experiences. And maybe with a free autographed book, as there will be hourly drawings where lucky visitors can win a free copy of a book written by a festival author.
Students in area schools are invited to participate in our essay contest and will receive a prize when they turn in their essays at the festival.
An informal opening-night reception, Friday, January 27, 2023 will allow authors, sponsors and interested members of the public to meet and mingle.
Florida has an amazing literary history dating back over two centuries, and Gainesville is a leading center of literary culture which over two hundred writers, novelists, playwrights, and poets call home.
From naturalist William Bartram’s book Travels, penned in the 1770s, to bestselling authors of today, writers have succumbed to the charm of our area. These include poet laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and winners of the science-fiction Nebula Award. The Sunshine State Book Festival’s goal is to further an appreciation of reading and provide the opportunity for readers to meet and interact with authors.
Literature/Novels: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings†, Harry Crews†, Zora Neale Hurston†, Padgett Powell, Lauren Groff, Joe Haldeman, Jill Ciment, Lawrence Dorr, Charlotte Porter, James Haskins, Rick Yancy, Janis Owens
History/Memoir: Michael Gannon†, Sudie Cauthen, Paul Ortiz, Bob Mason, Kevin McCarthy, James Haskins†, Rick Kilby, David Coburn, Gary Mormino, Chris Monaco, John Pickard, Sidney Lanier†, George Barbour†, Daniel Schafer, Barbara Purdy, Jerry Milanich, Gary Libby, David Leavitt, Steve Noll
Naturalists/Environment: William Bartram†, John Muir†, Jack Davis, Archie Carr†, Bob Knight, Bill Belleville, Lars Andersen, Cynthia Barnett, Steve Noll, David Tedeger, Stetson Kennedy†, Margaret Tolbert, Murray Laurie, Gary Monroe
Poet Laureates: Robert Frost†, Lola Haskins, E. Stanley Richardson
Robert Frost
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Students in grades K – 12 can win a prize in our essay contest. Check back later in the fall for details.
The festival is completely indoors and will be held January 28, 2023, rain or shine.
We are pleased to announce that noted author Janis Owens has agreed to be our keynote speaker. She is the author of four novels, a regional cookbook, and a book of nonfiction.
The only daughter of a Pentecostal preacher turned insurance salesman, she inherited her love of storytelling from her parents. Born in Marianna, Florida, she now lives in Newberry, Florida. Owens attended the University of Florida and studied under famed novelist Harry Crews. Her novels include My Brother Michael,The Schooling of Claybird Catts, Myra Sims, and American Ghost.
Owens’s essays on Florida life have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Writer’s Digest, and many other publications. She also published a memoir cookbook, The Cracker Kitchen, with an Introduction by Pat Conroy. Her latest book, Hidden in Plain Sight: A History of the Newberry Mass Lynching of 1916, concerns the aftermath of a dark period in the history of the American South.
Letting everyone know about our festival is important to the community. We’d appreciate your help getting the word out. Please mention it to friends and coworkers. Please send them the link: SunshineStateBookFestival.com and make sure to share it on your social media.
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church Directions
Meet and mingle with fellow authors and interested members of the public.
Free refreshments.
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church Directions
Meet 150 authors who will discuss, sell, and sign their books at the festival.
Books of 15 genres will be for sale.
Hourly drawings for free books given to attendees.
Children’s book authors will supply free worksheets / coloring sheets to children.
Students in the school essay contest will receive prizes.
Food trucks.
Handicap Accessible.
Plenty of free parking.
Trinity United Methodist Church Education Building Directions
10:00 a.m. 
10:30 a.m. 
11:00 a.m. 
11:30 a.m. 
12:00 p.m. 
12:30 p.m. 
1:00 p.m. 
2:00 p.m. 
2:30 p.m. 
3:00 p.m. 
3:30 p.m. 
Trinity United Methodist Church main building Directions
10:00 a.m. 
10:30 a.m. 
11:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m. 
12:00 p.m. 
12:30 p.m. 
2:00 p.m. 
2:30 p.m. 
3:00 p.m. 
3:30 p.m. 
4:00 p.m. 
4000 N.W. 53rd Ave
Gainesville, Florida
Easy access and plenty of free parking.
Food trucks will provide dining choices.
Trinity United Methodist Church is located on NW 53rd Ave., just east of NW 43rd St. Look for festival signs at the driveway entrance.
4200 NW 97th Blvd
Gainesville, Florida
Phone: (352) 331-3336
Closest hotel to the Festival.
Discounted room rate.
Located just west of I-75, exit 390.
Recommended hotel for out-of-town Festival attendees.
Nearby Best Western Gateway Grand hotel has reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate for festival attendees. To get the special rate, call (352) 331-3336 for reservations and ask for the Sunshine State Book Festival rate. Note: the discount is not available from Best Western's nationwide reservation number or website. Call the hotel directly.
Please consider becoming one of our sponsors.
View a video on our Youtube channel.
The Sunshine State Book Festival is funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, FL. This program/event is funded in part by a grant from the City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. Additional funding for this program was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: DTN: 3642940 License #: CH66096
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com.
Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.
