"What's not to like?" author Laura Fitzgerald rhetorically asks, speaking of the Tucson Festival of Books, which is writing its fourth chapter this year.
"There are certain events that help define Tucson, and the book festival is one of them," said Fitzgerald, a member of the festival's author committee. "I view it as a gift to the community."
The literary-centric mega event will bring 400 to 450 authors and 255 exhibitors' tents and booths to the University of Arizona Mall and adjacent lecture halls and meeting rooms March 10-11. A crowd of 100,000 people is expected during the inclusive, family-friendly community celebration.
"The unique character of the Tucson Festival of Books gives visitors a chance to enjoy programs in a friendly, accessible environment," said Sara Hayden, a volunteer with the festival's author committee and a librarian at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library.
"The festival is about providing a place for people to enjoy great stories of all kinds," Hayden said. "Even though our attendance numbers grow every year, our visitors and authors consistently comment on what a friendly, small-event feeling the festival has. ... It's like a block party for the whole town. And it's all free."
Arizona's commemoration of its 100th year of statehood this year is punctuating the event.
"The author committee has made special efforts to incorporate authors and panels that reflect on the people, culture and politics of the Grand Canyon State over the past century and beyond," said author committee member Bruce J. Dinges, director of publications at the Arizona Historical Society.
The book festival also advances the Southwest's literary tradition.
"Great literature comes from here," said Helene Woodhams, co-chair of the author committee and literary-arts librarian with the Pima County Public Library.
"When I think of cities known for their rich literary tradition (such as London or Dublin, Ireland, or, in the United States, San Francisco, Chicago and Manhattan), I believe that Tucson is the home of Southwest literature," Woodhams said. "The book festival is an important step in securing our city's place in that pantheon."
Not to worry if you're not a bibliophile or if you've been to previous festivals.
Tucson Festival of Books' "programming changes every year, and this year's schedule is packed full of brand-new offerings with something for everyone," Hayden said in an email. "Not only do we have author panels for pretty much every literary taste, but we also have workshops that give visitors the opportunity to explore their own creative sides and sharpen their writing skills."
Nationally known, respected authors are eager to participate in the festival.
"In four short years, the festival has earned the reputation of being one of the two or three most important festivals in the country," Dinges said.
The 2012 edition includes several noted authors who are new to the festival such as Pulitzer Prize-winner Richard Russo and "The Perfect Storm" author Sebastian Junger (see related story). Authors popular at past festivals are returning, such as children's author Jon Scieszka; Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Lonesome Dove"; Academy Award-winning writer Diana Ossana; and mystery writer J. A. Jance, the unofficial first lady of the festival.
"It's a tribute to the festival that so many renowned authors return," said Elizabeth Campbell, festival marketing committee volunteer and executive director of Reading Seed.
Beyond books
"One of the delightful things about the festival is that everyone can find something perfectly suited to their individual interests," author Fitzgerald said.
"The festival offers an enormous benefit to people coming from homes that don't necessarily have a literary tradition but are just looking for an outing," Woodhams said. "The festival gets them thinking about books and reading - not just that it's good for you, and will make your kids smarter … but also that books and reading are fun!"
A few of those activities include:
• The wonders of science leap from the pages with the hands-on activities, demonstrations and science-related authors that will inhabit Science City.
• Foodies - or folks who just like to eat - can spend time in the culinary tent hearing chef-authors and watching cooking demonstrations. Samples and tastings are in the mix, too.
• The children's area -practically a festival within the festival, according to Woodhams - will have authors, storytellers, crafts and costumed characters.
Who benefits
The Festival of Books has donated about $500,000 to local literacy efforts, which include Literacy for Life Coalition, Reading Seed and literacy programs at the UA BookStores.
Reading Seed, the children's literacy program that Campbell directs, has been a beneficiary of festival proceeds since its inception. The money has allowed Reading Seed to weather the downturn in the economy and continue providing trained volunteer reading coaches to 2,500 first- through third-graders every year, she said.
"Without that consistent support, we would almost certainly have had to cut back on our services at a time when increased class sizes mean children and schools need the volunteer help more than ever."
Proceeds from the free, volunteer event come from corporate sponsorships, foundation grants and exhibitor booth sales.
Get involved
There are still opportunities to get involved in the book festival, which requires about 2,000 volunteer shifts. Volunteer opportunities include venue management, information booth, author and moderator escort, cleanup and signage.
In addition, a speakers bureau can give your group or organization a free presentation about the festival. Go to the Tucson Festival of Books website, tucsonfestivalofbooks.org, for volunteer applications and speakers-bureau request forms.
"Even if you don't consider yourself a big reader, I encourage you to give the festival a shot," Hayden said. "Our schedule is full of entertaining author talks on subjects ranging from Arizona history to sustainability, cocktails to cooking, and politics to true crime."
4th annual Tucson Festival of Books
• When: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. March 10-11.
• Where: University of Arizona campus. Attendance and parking are free.
• What: About 450 authors, book discussions, workshops, literary activities for the entire family - and food.
• Sponsors: The UA and the Arizona Daily Star. University of Arizona Medical Center is the presenting sponsor. Net proceeds will promote literacy in Southern Arizona through the Tucson Festival of Books Foundation, a nonprofit organization.
• Bookmark it: Go to tucsonfestivalofbooks.org for more information, to follow the festival through e-mail newsletters, or if you're interested in volunteering at the event, having a speaker make a presentation to your group or organization, or making a tax-deductible donation (under "Friend of the Festival.") Follow the festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tucsonfestivalofbooks and go to www.twitter.com/tfob to follow on Twitter.
• Make a plan: With so much packed into two days, it's best to set up a tactical plan to make the most of the festival and not miss your favorite authors or activities. Check the March 4 Star, which will feature a pull-out section that details the event and includes a map. Apps for iPhones and Androids are available on the website.
Five things not to miss
1 Authors visiting the Tucson Festival of Books for the first time. There are too many to list, but a few of the authors headed to the festival for the first time include Richard Russo, T.C. Boyle, Lisa See and Iris Johansen. In nonfiction, Joe Palca, a science correspondent for NPR, is a first-timer this year and will talk about the book he co-authored: "Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us." For the kiddos, R. L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series and other horror fiction for young readers, is making his festival debut.
2 Authors coming back for return visits. In case you missed some of your favorite authors or want to hear them again, Elmore Leonard, Diana Gabaldon, Pete Dexter, T. Jefferson Parker, Alice Hoffman, Terry Brooks and Jeff Guinn are among the authors making a return visit to the book festival.
3 New and expanded exhibits and programs. Science City, the Culinary Tent and all of the demonstrations and activities are a chance to explore, learn and have fun.
4 Overdrive, a company that provides downloadable eBooks and audio books, will have its bus at the festival. If you've been wondering about downloadable books, this is the place to see how it all works.
5 Free programs and workshops for writers, which librarian Helene Woodhams said is one of the things that sets the Tucson festival apart from others. They range from research and writing how-tos to marketing your book to finding an agent. "It's a mecca for folks who may some day come back to the festival as a featured author," said Woodhams.