The Ohio River Festival of Books kicks off Monday, Sept. 26 and will last through Saturday, Oct. 2.

The festival brings in national and local authors, with the goal of highlighting local talent and bringing in new and diverse voices in literature.

Every day, there are different events that offer literary presentations and programming to the public in local schools, library branches and retirement communities. This leads to the bigger events that are on Friday and Saturday that include book sales, author signings discussions, workshops and more.

The events are scheduled as followed:

Eliot Parker: Parker Pens | Monday, Sept. 26 | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Cabell County Public Library

Susan Nicholas: Are You a Good Stranger? | Tuesday, Sept. 27 | 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Cox Landing Elementary School
Susan Nicholas will read her book, “Are You a Good Stranger?”

Peggy Napier: Welcome to Aunt Verlie’s Front Porch | Tuesday, Sept. 27 | 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Wayne Public Library
Peggy Napier will present her book, “Welcome to Aunt Verlie’s Front Porch.”

Jill Templeton: Picture Words: A Love Story | Tuesday, Sept. 27 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Salt Rock Branch Library
Jill Templeton will bring her novel, “Picture Words: A Love Story,” which is about a man who falls in love with a hearing-impaired woman by chance.

Doug Riley: History Alive! Mark Twain | Tuesday Sept. 27 | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Guyandotte Branch Library
Doug Riley reenacts Mark Twain that brings in both humor and history.

Richard Spilman: In the Night Speaking | Tuesday, Sept. 27 | 7:00 – 8:00 | Milton Public Library
Spilman will read from his book, “In the Night Speaking.”

MadCap Puppets: Aesop’s Fables | Wednesday, Sept. 28 | 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Don Morris Room, Marshall Student Center
MadCap puppets will present a program called “Aesop’s Fables.”

Laura Treacy Bentley: Lake Effect & The Silver Tattoo: A Short Reading and Conversation | Wednesday, Sept. 28 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Woodlands Retirement Community

Bentley will read “Lake Effect” and “The Silver Tattoo,” which will be followed by a discussion.

Susan Nicholas: Word Play: Having Fun Making Up Stories and Poems | Thursday, Sept. 29 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Barboursville Elementary School

1. Joseph Wyatt: A Career in Forensic Psychology in West Virginia | Thursday, Sept. 29 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Putnam County Library
   Wyatt will discuss a career in forensic psychology in West Virginia.

Robert P. Maroney: Our Interest in Murder | Thursday, Sept. 29 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Gallaher Branch Library
Maroney will discuss societal interest in the subject of murder as represented in literature.

Sam Wilson: Bill Lambert: World War I Flying Ace | Thursday, Sept. 29 | 7:00-8:00 p.m. | West Huntington Public Library
Wilson presents a program on his new book, “Bill Lambert: World War I Flying Ace.”

Curtis Sittenfeld | Friday, Sept. 30 | 6:30 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Showcase of the bestselling author of “Eligible,” “Sisterland,” “American Wife,” “Prep” and “The Man of My Dreams.”

Used Book Sale | Friday, Sept. 30, 5:00 p.m. –  8:00 p.m. | Saturday, Oct 1, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Signing Authors | Friday, Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 1, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Authors are signing books. Authors include Cindy Thomson, Joe Stephens, Fran Simone, Royce Sears, Jeanette Rowsey, Kathy Roberts, Bruce William Penley, David Mould, James R. Mapp, Labera Salamacha Lucas, Dr. DeBora L’T. Mapp, Brandon Ray Kirk, Eugene Johnson, Dr. William L. Grimes, John Hegenberger, Obiora Embry, Irucka Ajani Embry, Jean Dean, Michael Connick, James Casto, J.D. Byrne and Dr. Will Bashor.

Rajia Hassib | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Discusses her book, “In the Language of Miracles.”

Ashley Wolff | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Session for youth called “Follow the 4 Ps: Passion, Practice, Patience, and Perseverance.”

Sam Quinones | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 12:45 p.m. –  2:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Quinones talks about his book, “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic.”

Bright Star Theatre | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Session for youth featuring “Alice in Wonderland.”

Carine McCandless | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Talks about her memoir, “The Wild Truth.”

Cat Winters | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Discussion about the strange, dark and haunting history that inspires award-winning teen fiction.

Sarah Einstein, John Van Kirk, and Joseph Wyatt | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

A roundtable discussion focusing on the topic of the authors and their commitment to social responsibility in works of fiction and nonfiction.

Mickey Fisher | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Discussion about writing for television, theater and film.

Writer’s Workshop | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Pullman Plaza Hotel

Workshop sessions throughout the day. Session 1 is “Plot: The Foundation of Story.” Session 2 is “The Art of Description.” Session 3 is “Dialog and Point of View.” Session 4 is “Creating Great Characters.”

Chip Kidd | Saturday, Oct. 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Visual Arts Center

Closing reception for the Ohio River Festival.

Krislyn Holden can be contacted at [email protected].