The festival kicks off with the official Opening Ceremony, featuring state and local dignitaries, music and more. After the Opening Ceremony, enjoy live performances at the gate, visit the booths on the Grand Concourse and purchase books by our festival authors and poets.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Business by the Book
Renowned business writers Norm Brodsky, Bo Burlingham and Jack Stack discuss strategies to save your business, your family and your financial future in these trying economic times. Tickets for this luncheon program are $35 and may be purchased at www.missouriliteraryfestival.org. Tickets to Business by the Book will also get ticket holders into the festival throughout the weekend.
1:30-3 p.m.
The Art of Green, a panel discussion moderated by Melissa Cox and sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council, delves into sustainable design and construction. Panelists are Rick Harrison, author of "Prefurbia - Reinventing the Suburbs: From Disdainable to Sustainable," Bruce Adibyazdi, Robert B. Murray III, Tom Taylor and George Van Hoesen.
2-4 p.m.
Get Your Read On! kicks off festival events for kids, tweens and teens with authors Louise Jackson and J.B. Cheaney. Get ready to read, write and be creative. Enjoy word activities, create a bookmark, hear a story and enjoy refreshments provided by SportsService.
3-4 p.m.
Write Like You Mean Business sponsored by the Association of Women in Communication
Lit Fest After Hours
4-5 p.m.
Award-winning spoken work poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo conducts a Slam Poetry Workshop at the Drury Diversity Center
6-9 p.m.
The public opening of The Poetics of Construction, a sustainable-design charette conceived by architect Jeff Barber in conjunction with The Art of Green, takes place during First Friday Art Walk at The Creamery
6-10 p.m.
Enjoy Missouri Literary Festival on the Square during First Friday Art Walk. Hear finalists in the Missouri Literary Festival Award for Short Fiction Contest reading their works, Poetry Out Loud performers and local slam poetry.
10 p.m.-Midnight
An Evening of Slam Poetry at the Drury Diversity Center, featuring champion spoken word poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo and a Slam Invitational competition.
Saturday, Oct. 3
Regular Festival Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Get Your Read On! Enjoy creative activities, stories and more for children, tweens and teens all day at Hammons Field.
To Read a Mockingbird. Enjoy our marathon public reading of Harper Lee's classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" at the Readers Corner on the Hammons Field Grand Concourse.
9-10 a.m.
Poet Marcus Cafagna, author of "The Broken World" and "Roman Fever;"
Nature Photographer John Hess, author of "The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin's Tapestry;" and Juvenile fiction writer J.B. Cheaney, author of "The Middle of Somewhere."
10-11 a.m.
Two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, author of "Ballistics"
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
J. Terry Johnson, author of "Cardinals Fever," at the Hammons Field Team Store
11 a.m - Noon
A Gathering of Local Writers features readings of original works by Missouri State University writers, including mystery writer William Bernhardt, New York Times bestselling author of "Capitol Conspiracy" and "Criminal Intent"; instructional writer Judy Brunner, author of "Response to Intervention Tiers One and Two: Helping All Students Understand and Remember What They Read"; and children's writer Louise Jackson, author of "Exiled! From Tragedy to Triumph on the Missouri Frontier."
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Special Event: Brunch with Laura Shapiro Enjoy culinary insights from food writer Laura Shapiro, author of "Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century" and the biography "Julia Child," at The Creamery Arts Center while savoring a delicious brunch by Gallery Bistro Chef Peter Tinson. Tickets are $25
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Missouri Poet Laureate Walter Bargen, author of "The Feast" and "Theban Traffic."
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Missouri Poet Kevin Prufer, author of "National Anthem" and "Little Paper Sacrifice"
Mad Science activities in the Children's Area.
1-2 p.m.
A Gathering of Local Writers features readings of original works by Missouri State University authors. Novelist Katie Estill, author of "Evening Would Find Me" and "Dahlia's Gone"; political writer Ken Rutherford, author of "Humanitarianism Under Fire: The US and UN Intervention in Somalia"; and comic book artist and caricaturist Tielman Cheaney.
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Children's author and poet David Harrison, author of "Pirates" and "Cave Detectives"
2-3 p.m.
A Gathering of Local Writers features readings of original works by Drury University writers. Two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins addresses prepared students; novelist Daniel Woodrell, author of "Winter's Bone" and "Tomato Red"; Children's writer Kate Klise, author of "Regarding the Fountain" and "Deliver Us From Normal."
3-4 p.m.
Novelist Robert Dalby, author of "A Piggly Wiggly Wedding"
Western writer Dusty Richards, author of "The Horse Creek Incident"
Photographer Julie Blackmon, author of "Domestic Vacations"
Children's writer Judy Young, author of "The Hidden Bestiary of Marvelous, Mysterious and (maybe even) Magical Creatures"
3-5 p.m.
Write, Edit, Publish: A How-To Panel featuring moderator Kate Klise and panelists Moira Bailey, Suzann Ledbetter Ellingsworth, Jody Feldman, Clarissa French and Kelly Knauer.
4-5 p.m.
Brad Gooch, author of "Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor"
Richard Paul Evans, author of "The Christmas Box" and "The Gift"
Missouri Literary Journals and Their Missions featuring Craig Albin, Speer Morgan, Kevin Prufer, Kristine Somerville and Lanette Cadle
Lit Fest After Hours
7-10 p.m.
Special Event: Meet the Authors Gala - Mix and mingle with the festival authors in a convivial cocktail atmosphere on the Prime Plaza. Enjoy the free exchange of ideas with our literary lions, plus delicious drinks and hors d'oeuvre. Tickets are $75.
Sunday, Oct. 4
Regular Festival Hours: Noon-4:30 p.m.
Noon-4:30 p.m. Get Your Read On! Enjoy creative activities, stories and more for children, tweens and teens all day at Hammons Field.
To Read a Mockingbird. Enjoy our marathon public reading of Harper Lee's classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" at the Readers Corner on the Hammons Field Grand Concourse.
Noon-1 p.m.
Cait London, best-selling romance writer, author of "For Her Eyes Only."
Noon-2 p.m. Cowboy Poetry, featuring members of the Missouri Cowboy Poets Association.
1-2 p.m.
Remembering Tony LaRussa, Mike Lindskog, the Voice of the Cardinals, interviews Matt Gifford and Rob Rains, author of "Tony LaRussa: Man on a Mission"
Children's writer Jody Feldman, author of "The Gollywhopper Games."
2-3 p.m.
Inspirational writer and speaker Jennifer Rothschild, author of "Self Talk, Soul Talk"
Book Collecting with Dr. William H. Cooper Writing To Get Paid versus Writing For Money, by humorist, novelist and nonfiction writer Suzann Ledbetter Ellingsworth, author of "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie."
3-4 p.m.
Arts and cultural writer Sally Tippett Rains, author of "The Making of a Classic, Margaret Mitchell and Gone With The Wind"; So, You Want to be an Author ... by writer and editor Reta Spears-Stewart; and Children's writer June Rae Wood, author of "The Man Who Loved Clowns."
April 7 was the official opening day for Mexican-Italian fusion restaurant Show Me Chuy after a soft launch that started March 31; marketing agency AdZen debuted; and the Almighty Sando Shop opened a brick-and-mortar space.
