Entertaining Ourselves
Books about the other things we love: Music, TV, Film, Sports and more at TFOB
No matter what most entertains you when you’re not turning pages— TV, music, film, sports, or celebrity gossip—we’ve got a session for you at this year’s festival.
And we’re ready to celebrate too, with a fun line up of entertainment and family activities. We’ve got a circus, mariachi, jazz, folk music, storybook characters and more— all free to festival goers all weekend long. Come out and have a great time!
You know you’re a book lover when you’re reading to more deeply understand the other things you love. Here are a few highlights to check out:
Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous
In her 40 years as a reporter and columnist for The New York Times, Maureen Dowd has befriended hundreds of well-known celebrities. Her new book, “Notorious” debuts the week of the festival. It’s a fun, chatty collection of stories and tidbits about everyone from Uma Thurman to Greta Gerwig, Paul Newman to Elon Musk. Oh, the stories she could (and does) tell!
Saturday, March 15 | 1:00 p.m. | Arizona Daily Star Stage
Moderator: David Fitzsimmons
Maureen Dowd will be the keynote speaker at the Author’s Table Dinner on Friday, March 14th. Her other appearances at the festival include Hot Off the Press, a book launch event exclusively for Friends and Sponsors of the festival, and a Fast Pass eligible session on Sunday. Join Friends of the Festival now to learn more about how you can be one of the first to get Maureen’s autograph on her new book!
Lights, Camera, Publish!
Ed Burns, Bill Carter and Ramona Emerson
These authors’ resumes bridge the gap between page and stage. Each has experience in film. In this session, they will discuss how they think differently when it comes to storytelling in various media, and how each uniquely enhances a story.
Sunrday, March 16 | 2:30 p.m. | SUMC North Ballroom
Moderator: Herb Stratford
Cultural Icons
Susan Morrison, Rob Sheffield, Guy Trebay
How does Taylor Swift capture our common experiences so well? Who is Lorne Michaels, the genius founder of SNL? What was it like to hang with Andy Warhol and the artistic tribes of 1970s Manhattan? These three authors can answer those questions and more.
Saturday, March 15 | 10:00 a.m. | ILC 120— Fast Passes will be available
Moderator: Elliot Glicksman
Morrison’s new book, “Lorne” launched last week to great acclaim in the New York Times (gift links). Swifties won’t want to miss Sheffield’s “Heartbreak is the National Anthem.” And for some glitz + grit, check out Trebay’s “Do Something: Coming of Age Amid the Glitter and Doom of ’70s New York.”
Sports Fans Huddle Up!
We’ve also got 6 sports-focused author sessions planned for you. From Louis Moore’s history of the Black quarterback, “The Great Black Hope,” to
’s “Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside” and ’s “Why We Love Football,” and ’s “Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon,” you’ll have so many opportunities to see another side of sports.My personal plea to you…
How much do you ❤️ the Tucson Festival of Books? It’s open to all with no admission charge because of our amazing volunteers who sign up for a shift to help. In return they get something else money can’t buy: the feeling of joy in being part of a community, of creating this weekend of fun with and for each other. Who doesn’t need that right now?
It’s a connection that lasts. Have you ever run into a volunteer at the gym or out on a hike in our beautiful desert, and recognized them because of their unique Volunteer t-shirt? Tucson magic.
We still need a few author drivers (great if you can talk to anyone and brake safely at the same time!) and A LOT of line monitors to help guests find the right spot for their sessions. Sign up if you can, please and thank you!❤️
Books Launching Today
Omar El Akkad - “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This” - Random House
Jack Fairweather - “The Prosecutor” - Crown
T. Kingfisher - “Swordheart” - Tor Publishing Group
Eric Lide - Sword of the Champion - Union Square Kids
Leo Romero - “Trees Dream of Water” - University of Arizona Press
Emily J. Taylor - “The Otherwhere Post” - Penguin Group
Jeffrey Toobin - “The Pardon” - Simon & Schuster