Huntsville's Great Big Book Festival Features Bestselling Author Ariel Lawhon

Huntsville is set to host The Great Big Book Festival on November 7, organized by the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. The festival will feature New York Times bestselling author Ariel Lawhon as the headline speaker, welcoming both readers and writers for a full day of literary programming.

The event will take place at the Downtown Huntsville Public Library, beginning at 9 a.m. Attendees can look forward to a variety of free programs led by local authors and industry experts, covering topics such as the publishing process, playwriting, and emerging literary genres.

Ariel Lawhon, recognized for her award-winning historical fiction, will discuss her latest novel, The Pirate Queen, which is inspired by the life of 16th-century Irish chieftain Grace O'Malley, known as the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Lawhon's previous work, The Frozen River, achieved New York Times bestseller status.

During her two ticketed sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., Lawhon will delve into Grace O'Malley's story, highlighting her defiance of societal expectations and her journey to command the O'Malley fleet while resisting English control over Ireland.

In addition to keynote sessions, the festival offers various free events such as “Writing & Publishing” with author Georgina Cross, “Introduction to Playwriting” with Daniel Martin, and “Why Is Everyone Talking About LitRPG” with Erin Ampersand. Attendees will also have the chance to meet other featured authors, including children’s author Heather C. Morris and USA Today bestsellers Kate Westbury and Maggie Rapier.

Local businesses and independent creators will showcase their offerings in the festival marketplace, featuring vendors like The Bookwyrm, CharmedbyNatalieAnn, and Julie Crews Fine Art, who will sell handmade bookmarks, 3D-printed book-related accessories, and artwork.

The Great Big Book Festival promises to celebrate the literary community in North Alabama, with programming designed to connect writers, readers, and local creatives.

For details on the full schedule and ticket information for Ariel Lawhon’s sessions, visit the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library’s Great Big Book Festival page.