Author Application

2024 application will be available from January 1 – May 15, 2024.

The 43rd annual Kentucky Book Festival will be held on November 2nd, 2024 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY.

Author participation in the 2024 Kentucky Book Festival will be by invitation only. To be considered for inclusion in our lineup, all authors must complete and submit this online application. The deadline to apply is midnight on Wednesday, May 15th.

Following the application deadline, the festival committee will review all applications and select the authors and titles to be included in the 2024 Kentucky Book Festival. Only complete online applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.

Authors who apply independently and are invited to participate are responsible for their own travel and expenses related to attending the event.

Important Dates*

January 1, 2024: Applications open
May 15, 2024: Deadline for applications (midnight)
June 1 – July 2024: Author invitations issued via mail or email
July 15, 2024: Deadline for invited authors to confirm participation
November 2, 2024: Kentucky Book Festival at Joseph-Beth Booksellers from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern.

*subject to change

Submission Guidelines:

Only ONE title can be submitted as the featured title (can be forthcoming title); all other titles will be considered backlist.
The submitted/featured title should be published from July 1, 2023 onward.
Submitted title should be in publication and available to order by September 15, 2024.
Textbooks and other technical guides/manuals will not be considered.
Self-published books will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Submitted materials cannot be returned and become the property of Kentucky Humanities/the Kentucky Book Festival.
Complete application includes mailing a copy of the book to the address below (or sending via email if finished copies are not available)

To complete your application, fill out the application form and mail ONE COPY of a finished book or ARC (or a sample chapter if book is in pre-production) to:

Kentucky Humanities

attn. Kentucky Book Festival

206 E. Maxwell St.

Lexington, KY 40508

Note: Digital ARCs are acceptable if a physical book copy is not available and can be emailed to the director. We are unable to return submitted materials. Incomplete forms will not be reviewed.

Book Information & Order Guidelines

Submitted books should be available to Joseph-Beth Booksellers through standard purchasing procedures, which include:

– The book must be 100% returnable

– The book must be eligible for a full discount (at least a standard 40% trade discount)

– The book must have an ISBN and a bar code

Joseph-Beth will, in partnership with the Kentucky Book Festival, determine the titles and quantities for each author accepted to the book festival (and festival events, if applicable). *Please note: ALL applications are considered. If Joseph-Beth is unable to order an individual author’s books through their normal ordering channels and under the terms outlined above, the author will be contacted to provide books for the event.

If invited to participate in the Kentucky Book Festival, some authors may be invited to do a reading or participate in a panel discussion.

Please review the festival’s anti-harassment policy here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to questions regarding the author application form below. If you need assistance, please get in touch through the Contact page or send an email to the Kentucky Book Festival here.

How will this information be used?
I am a publicist, agent, editor, or assistant submitting this application on behalf of an author. Can I list myself as the main point of contact?
Can I send in a paper application?
My files won't upload. What am I doing wrong?

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.
My author photo and/or book cover image are not ready yet. What do I do?
Is it ok to list self-published books in the backlist titles section?
I never received a copy of my application form via email.
If I am accepted and need to provide my own books to sell at the event, how does that work?

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.
I never received a notification as to whether my book was accepted. What should I do?
What does the day look like at Joseph-Beth Booksellers?

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.
How do I know if I've been selected for a program or presentation?
I still have a question!