‘Calling Me Home’ author to speak at Kentucky Women’s Book Festival

Julie Kibler, author of the bestselling novel “Calling Me Home,” will deliver the keynote address at the ninth annual Kentucky Women’s Book Festival at UofL. January 21, 2015

Author presentations, book sales and signings and a luncheon will give participants a chance to connect over their favorite pastimes: reading, writing and talking about books, Saturday, March 7 at Ekstrom Library. The festival, sponsored by the Women’s Center and University Libraries, begins at 9:30 a.m with refreshments and socializing in the lobby and ends at 3:30 p.m. Information is online at http://louisville.edu/womenscenter/programs-events/community/kwbf.

The topic for the 12:15 keynote luncheon is Writing My Way Back to Kentucky: Julie Kibler discusses her debut novel, ‘Calling Me Home.’” The novel has been published in 15 languages, named a finalist for the 2014 Kentucky Literary Award, and selected as a book club pick for Ladies' Home Journal. Warner Brothers has optioned the film rights.

            The opening speaker at 10 a.m. will be Kelly Cogswell, journalist, blogger and author of the memoir “Eating Fire: My Life as a Lesbian Avenger.”  

Other speakers include:

  • Tytianna N. M. Wells Smith, author/illustrator, “Sweet Pea and Sugar Tea’s Country Family Adventures: A Collection of African-American Poems”
  • Aaisha Hamid, author, “Faceless: Two Worlds Collide”
  • Maryjean Wall, author, “Madam Belle: Sex, Money and Influence in a Southern Brothel”
  • Linda Y. Atkins, attorney and author of the Hilary Adams Mystery Series
  • Mitzi Sinnott, actress and arts educator
  • Mary Hamilton, storyteller and author, “Kentucky Folktales: Revealing Stories, Truths, and Outright Lies”
  • Mary Popham, editor and author, “Back Home in Landing Run”

The festival sessions and presentations are free, except for an optional $10 lunch. Luncheon registration should be made by March 4 by calling the UofL Women’s Center at 502-852-8976.