Decatur Book Festival returns

The annual Decatur Book Festival returns this weekend, Sept. 3-5, with hundreds of authors on hand for readings, signings, panel discussions and more. Here's what my schedule is looking like.

On Saturday at 10 a.m. I'll be reading poems from Persistent Voices: An Anthology of Poets Lost to AIDS with Franklin Abbott, Megan Volpert, Cleo Creech and Theresa Davis. Editor David Groff will be on hand to discuss the anthology. At 11 a.m. I'm moderating a social media panel with Karen Head, Jessica Handler, Laurel Snyder and Jef Blocker. Both of these are happening at the Holiday Inn/Decatur Conference Center.

On Sunday from 4-6 p.m. I'm hosting a great group of poets on the Local Poetry Stage at Java Monkey Coffee House including Mike Dockins, Lisa Allender, Eve Hoffman, Dustin Brookshire, Cleo Creech, Anne Webster, Gypsee Yo and the fab Charles Jensen. The regular Java Monkey Speaks open mic will begin as usual at 8 p.m. (sign up at 7:30, but come early to find a seat and get your name on the list!). The special guest is my pal, the wonderful Patricia Smith.

For a full schedule of events at the Decatur Book Festival, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com.