Harper to host free book festival at Schaumburg location

With so many published authors connected to Harper College – faculty, staff, students and alumni – it only makes sense that Harper would host a book festival. Bookmarks: A Festival for Readers and Writers will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, August 29 at Harper’s Schaumburg location, 650 E. Higgins Road.

The free event, co-presented by the Harper College Library and Community Education, will feature author panels, book readings, sessions with Harper faculty about writing and a virtual keynote address from New York Times bestselling author Laurie Gwen Shapiro, who penned The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Making of an American Icon. Visitors can meet local authors, buy books, engage with area libraries, and listen to live music from Harper’s Back Porch Revue. (August 29 also happens to be International Play Music on the Porch Day.)

“There’s something for everyone here, whether you’re a reader or a writer,” said Librarian Christine Kuffel, a Harper professor.

Sessions include panels focused on writing poetry, doing research and writing in the age of A.I. along with readings from children’s and middle-grade authors – including Harper CE students Clayton Keith and Ten Robinson. Current Harper student, author and publisher Aiden Branss, who is 22, will lead a session to discuss how he started a publishing company to create books by and for his generation.

“I was kind of amazed at the number of people who are authors who are involved with Harper College,” said Scott Cashman, senior manager of community, career and corporate education. “It’s not just faculty, but a lot of staff are authors and so are CE students who have become published authors as a result of engaging with our writing programs.”

Cashman, who also co-leads the Back Porch Revue, said that Bookmarks will serve as a reintroduction to Harper’s Schaumburg location, which has been closed for six years. The space boasts more than a dozen classrooms, easy parking and ample space for an event such as this.

As a lifelong book-lover, Kuffel is excited about the event, as well as the opportunity to engage with readers in Harper’s district. She noted that Harper College Library staff will be registering eligible district residents for library accounts, providing access to books, DVDs, LPs and more.

“This will be a good way to celebrate the end of summer,” Kuffel said. “It’s not a carnival, but a little more low-key and I hope it’s inspiring for those who attend.”

Visit harpercollegece.com/bookmarks to see the Bookmarks schedule and register to attend.