The Blount County Public Library will host the fifth Anna Belle Smith Literary Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 24, celebrating regional authors with book signings and a keynote address from acclaimed Cherokee novelist Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle. This year’s festival honors Anna Belle Smith, the library's founding mother, and aims to bring together writers and readers for discussions and book sales.

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Clapsaddle is known for her novel “Even as We Breathe” and will address topics such as contemporary fiction, BIPOC representation, Native American and Indigenous issues, and economic inequality. An enrolled citizen of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee with degrees from Yale University and the College of William and Mary, Clapsaddle will also host a book signing following her address.

Her work has been featured in various publications, including Yes! Magazine, Lit Hub, and The Atlantic. Clapsaddle has been honored with the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award and the Morning Star Award for Creative Writing from the Native American Literature Symposium, as well as being a finalist for the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. The festival’s organizer, Sheri McCarter, the library's writer-in-residence, has played a vital role in shaping the event as it approaches its fifth year.

Following the keynote, regional authors will be available in the library's main gallery to discuss their works, sign books, and connect with attendees. The literary festival has previously featured prominent writers such as John McManus, Frank X Walker, and Karen Spears Zacharias, reflecting its high caliber.

The festival evolves each year to meet the needs of the community. Last year, the program included discussions on poetry, art, and conservation stories. The previous Anna Belle Smith Literary Festival took place on October 25, 2025, at the same location, with varied attendance reports indicating around 60 authors participated.

An evening event will follow this year’s festival, hosted by the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, featuring discussions and book signings with authors Ron Rash, Crystal Wilkinson, Linda Parsons, and Kelli Jo Ford. This continuation of events echoes the previous year's schedule, which also included an evening panel on rural writing. The festival maintains its free, community-focused format, honoring Anna Belle Smith's legacy.