Author Application

Author & book information is used in various promotional content. Participating authors are listed on the Kentucky Book Festival website, and brief descriptions are included in the book festival catalog. Author and/or book photos may be used in promotional materials on social media or festival-related signage as well. 

Yes, however, if the author is selected to participate in a program on-stage, we will need direct contact information made available. All contact information is confidential and is not disseminated to third parties.

Paper forms are not accepted. Please submit an application through the online form above. The form is best submitted through a browser like Google Chrome or Firefox. If you are unable to submit the form online, please email the director. You must have an active email account, as most book festival communication is sent via email.

To upload your photos, click the “Select File” button. Once the file has uploaded, the file’s name will appear under the gray bar. If you chose the wrong file, you may click the word “Delete” next to the file name and upload a new file. If you are still having trouble, check the file format and size of the file. PDF files are not preferred. Please upload a .png, .jpg, or .jpeg file. If your file is not 700 px wide or larger, it may appear grainy or blurry on our website. If you need to submit more than one photo, please send as an email attachment to contactkybookfestival@gmail.com.

No worries! You can send these files as an email attachment when they are available. Send to contactkybookfestival@gmail.com. 

Yes. As long as they are still in print.

Check your spam/junk folders. The email will have “2024 KBF Author Application” as a subject line. Please do not reply to that address, as is it not monitored.

If your featured book is accepted and it is not available for Joseph-Beth Booksellers to order for the event through their normal channels, you will be contacted by the KBF director with instructions about bringing your books, including suggested quantities and when/where to check in before the event begins. This policy also pertains to backlist titles, where relevant. All book sales will run through the Joseph-Beth registers. 

If you have not received an email or letter in response to your application by August 1, 2024, please send the director an email at contactkybookfestival@gmail.com. Please note: all decisions are final.

Lookout! This requires a long answer: Typically, all participating authors sign books starting at 9:30 AM, and many sign until 5:00 PM. We encourage attendees to visit with authors all day and get books signed or personalized before purchasing. As attendees collect books from the authors they visit at signing tables, they can purchase their books at registers throughout the bookstore.

We set up two program spaces within our venue, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, called the Main Stage and the Writer’s Room. The Main Stage seats about 300 people and is used for keynotes, author interviews, and some panels. There are usually 6-7 programs planned on that stage, each 45 minutes long and including audience Q&A. The Writer’s Room allows for an additional 6-7 programs, this time to a smaller audience of about 40-55 people. 

Authors who don’t participate in a program typically engage with fans in the Author Signing Gallery and/or Children’s Authors Tent, where they have the opportunity to share their work with thousands of attendees. Authors are seated two to a table and grouped by genre, with books pre-set by festival volunteers and/or authors before the event begins on Saturday (extra books are stored under the tables). Authors are provided lunch and coffee. And if you’re wondering: Joseph-Beth is unique among indie bookstores in that it is 45,000 sq. ft.! Along with two stories of books, there is a full-service restaurant right inside the building, and they of course sell many gifts and book-related items as well as toys. A reception will be hosted inside Joseph-Beth on Friday, November 1st for authors, sponsors, and supporters of the festival.

You will be contacted directly by the book festival director. The schedule typically comes together late summer/early August and is subject to change.

Please send a message through this page, https://kybookfestival.org/contact-us/, and we’ll be in touch.