Cleveland Book Fest Kicks Off a Month of Literary Activity Around the Region

What if every single resident in the Greater Cleveland Area engaged with a book this September?

We have come together to find out.

Our mission is to nurture Northeast Ohio’s love for literature. No matter the genre, no matter the age, no matter the reading level—we want the whole city to discover a story worth sharing.

The stakes are high.

In an era of censorship, disinformation, literacy gaps, and the dismantling of cultural and educational institutions—now is the time for us to come together and stand up for the future of literary arts in our city.

For the entire month of September, we are bringing literary arts events to every corner of the city, and almost all are free of charge.

Cleveland Book Fest (formerly known as Cleveland Book Week) is a multi-organization initiative with official partners including: Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, The City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC), Lake Erie Ink, Literary Cleveland and Writers in Residence.

This year’s festival is slated to draw in thousands of book lovers, writers, and residents through author talks, poetic-inspired exhibits, dynamic readings, and publishing panels. From rock legends Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo promoting their new picture book at Cleveland Public Library to New York Times bestselling author Celeste Ng keynoting Literary Cleveland’s annual Inkubator Writing Conference, Cleveland Book Fest provides diverse entry points into the world of literature.

For the month of September, Cleveland will transform into one of the nation’s most literary cities. We hope you’ll join us.

YOUTH, TEEN, AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING
This year’s Cleveland Book Fest features more family-friendly programming than ever before. The Cleveland Public Library kicks off Cleveland Book Fest this year on September 3 with a family-friendly program at the MLK Branch featuring the legendary rock duo Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, who will read their newly released picture book, My Grandma and Grandpa Rock!

Lake Erie Ink, Writers in Residence, CHARP EDucation, and Sparrow’s Fortune will follow that up on September 11 with Listen Up! Teen Writers Fest, also at the MLK Branch of the Cleveland Public Library. Teens in grades 7th-12th across the Greater Cleveland Community are invited to write in response to prompts, share work in an open mic, hear from local guest poets, eat pizza, and grab giveaways.

Then, on September 14, join Literary Cleveland for a free book giveaway at the West Side Market in partnership with the Cleveland Public Library. CPL will give away books at a fruit and vegetable stand in the arcade, Comics at the Corner and Carol and John’s Comic Shop will have free comics, and Rust Belt Humanities Lab will be on hand for a free talk on comics.

WRITING WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES, AND MORE
If you’re an emerging writer looking to share your work, learn from publishing professionals, gain insights from highly-esteemed authors, and sharpen your craft—Cleveland Book Fest has the perfect lineup for you.

Literary Cleveland will launch its 11th annual Inkubator Writing Conference, the largest free writing conference in the nation. The 2025 conference theme, “Burn Bright,” is taken from the words of 2025 Inkubator Keynote speaker Celeste Ng. As she writes in her book Our Missing Hearts: “If the world is on fire you might as well burn bright.” The conference features virtual events September 8-10; 40+ workshops on writing and publishing at the main Cleveland Public Library on September 11-13; and community programs throughout the month, including a free open mic event hosted by Calil “Just C.O.S.” Cage and Siaara Freeman of The Sparrow’s Fortune. See the full schedule and register for free at inkubator.litcleveland.org.

Attend the Eighth Annual Great Lakes African American Writers Conference September 27 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Cleveland Public Library-MLK Branch for their annual day-long conference where Black literary creatives are celebrated and highlighted for their work in Cleveland and beyond. The 2025 conference features a nationally renowned author, Diane McKinney-Whetstone (the Langston Hughes Literary Keynote), and Kim Martin Sadler (the Alice Dunbar Nelson Professional Keynote), a publishing industry expert, to share insights with authors and aspiring writers throughout the region. Accompanied by in-depth panel discussions, opportunities to network with esteemed literary minds, and be equipped with trending literary tactics, this event is a must-attend for all literary creatives and lovers of African American literature.

90 YEARS OF TRUTH TELLING THROUGH LITERATURE
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards (AWBA), the only national juried prize for literature that addresses racism and diversity, proudly marks its 90th anniversary with a citywide celebration September 19–20. The weekend begins with a special City Club of Cleveland Friday Forum at 11:30 a.m. featuring literary scholars Jonathan D. S. Schroeder (AWBA 2025) and Vincent Brown (AWBA 2021) in conversation on Rediscovering Resistance: John Swanson Jacobs and 600,000 Despots. The forum will be held at the City Club of Cleveland (1317 Euclid Ave.) and is open to the public (tickets available on CityClub.org, $45 each).

That evening, the 90th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Ceremony will take place at the Maltz Performing Arts Center (1855 Ansel Rd.) beginning at 6:30 p.m. featuring Janice N. Harrington, Tessa Hulls, Jonathan D. S. Schroeder, and Danzy Senna. Nicole Sealey and John Murillo will accept the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Yusef Komunyakaa. A public reception with book signings, food, and drinks will follow at the Ballroom at Park Lane.

The 90th Anniversary Celebration continues September 20 at the Cleveland Public Library’s MLK Branch with two dynamic panels. Doors open at 9 a.m. Authors in attendance include: Natasha Trethewey (AWBA 2021), Peter Ho Davies (AWBA 2017), Charles King (AWBA 2020), Tiya Miles (AWBA 2022), George Makari (AWBA 2022), David Livingstone Smith (AWBA 2012), Adrian Matejka (AWBA 2014), Ilya Kaminsky (AWBA 2020), Victoria Chang (AWBA 2021), Monica Youn (AWBA 2024), Marilyn Chin (AWBA 2015), Shane McCrae (AWBA 2018), and Tyehimba Jess (AWBA 2017), with more to be announced.

In the afternoon, the celebration will shift to Ohio City with a series of intimate, author-led conversations and performances featuring Danzy Senna, Deesha Philyaw, Tessa Hulls, Maxine Hong Kingston, Jonathan D. S. Schroeder, and Janice N. Harrington. All of the afternoon events are free, open to the public, and within walking distance of each other. General admission tickets are released on September 2. For more information and to receive event updates, visit Anisfield-Wolf.org.

BOOK LAUNCH EVENTS
Cuyahoga County Public Library has a suite of book release events throughout September. Two highlights are the trailblazing historian Jill Lepore and the Man Booker Prize-winning author Ian McEwan.

On September 22 from 7-8 p.m., Jill Lepore will discuss her latest book, We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution at the Cuyahoga County Public Library Parma-Snow Branch. Each ticket ($35 +fees) includes a seat at the author’s talk, a copy of We the People, and a donation to the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation.

On September 26 at 7:30 p.m., Writers Center Stage presents Ian McEwan at the Maltz Performing Arts Center. Ian McEwan’s literary works have earned him worldwide critical acclaim. His novel, Atonement, received the WH Smith Literary Award in 2002 and was made into an Oscar-winning film featuring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. His new book, What We Can Know, will be published on September 18. Single tickets ($25-35) go on sale, September 3rd.

With this wide range of offerings, we hope you know that there is a place for you in the world of literature. Whether you’re a reluctant reader or an avid book lover, we know you will find a story worth sharing this September. Confirmed events and additional details are available at www.clevelandbookfest.com.

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