The Dahlonega Literary Festival is an annual celebration of readers, writers, and books. For 19 years, the festival has been celebrated in the heart of Dahlonega, Georgia and organized by an all-volunteer staff who enjoy bringing readers, authors, and the written word together to celebrate a common love of books and literature.

Our Featured Authors are nationally-known and represent a variety of genres. Additionally, Regional Writers (from local to other areas of the Southeast and beyond) are on hand to interact with attendees and sell their books.

SCHEDULE

9:00 am - 9:50am

“Southern Crime (Noir/Not So Noir”) – part three – Dan Leach, Meagan Lucas and Brian Panowich – Moderator:  Melissa Lockaby. Rm. 28-29

“Humor in Literature” - examines some of the great comedic characters in literature and some of the best humorous authors - Jameson Gregg, author. Rm. 30

10:00am - 10:50am

“The Power of Poetry” - Ashley M. Jones (poet laureate of Alabama) with Bill Walsh. Rm 105

“The Fabled Earth” – a southern gothic novel with dual timelines, set on Georgia’s Cumberland Island, author Kimberly Brock - Moderator: Candice Dyer. Rm 30

“Zenith Man: Death, Love &Redemption in a Georgia Courthouse (true story) – author

McCracken Poston, Jr., Moderator: William Rawlings. Rm.  28/29

11:00am -11:50am

“Oglethorpe Founder of Georgia” – author Michael Thurmond – introduced by Juanita Tipton Rm. 28/29

“You’re Not a Murderer: You Have Harm OCD” - author Kim Conrey – Moderator: Jacob Appel. Rm. 105

Workshop: “Intro to Publishing” - Juliet Rose, award-winning writer and publisher, teaches you how to navigate the publishing world - traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing with heavy focus on self-publishing.  Rm. 30

Lunch 12:15pm-1:45pm

Former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, luncheon speaker

University of North Georgia Banquet Room A

404 Georgia Circle (fronts of W. Main St.)

Tickets are $27

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​Pitch Judging Sessions with the UNG Press. By appointment between 1:00-2:30. For Guidelines on How to Submit a Book Pitch, go to https://ung.edu/university-press/events.php. Church library, Rm. 127.

2:00pm - 2:50pm

Panel: “The Jury’s Out – Do Lawyers Make Good Authors?” -  authors Jameson Gregg, Wanda Morris, McCracken Poston, Jr., Moderator: George Weinstein. Sanctuary

“Wofford’s Blood” an epic family saga saturated in Cherokee and North Georgia history based on a true story. -  author Donna Coffee Little - Moderator: Stacia Pelletier.  Rm. 30

“Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hal of Famer Johnny Mize (son of Demorest, GA) -author Jerry Grillo -Moderator:  Dr. Pat Conarro. Rm. 28/29

3:00pm -3:50pm

“What You Leave Behind” acclaimed novel, soon to be a Showtime series by Wanda Morris, author – Moderator: Meagan Lucas. Rm. 30

“Outdoors – Fly Fishing; the Appalachian Trail: - authors Sam Johnson & John Turner. Moderator: Kelly West.  Rm. 28/29

Special Presentation: “Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Lillian Smith’s Novel Strange Fruit,” By Matthew Teutsch, Associate Professor of English at Piedmont University.    Moderator: Tanya Bennett. Rm. 105

4:00pm - 4:50pm

Rick Bragg, Headliner

With Brian Panowich

Sanctuary

Tickets are $25

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