Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation brings ten award-winning authors to Charlotte for EpicFest

EpicFest is an extraordinary, free literary festival that connects families, children and teens to the Library, while strengthening and instilling the love of reading. EpicFest will take place Nov. 6-7, and feature ten award-winning children and young adult authors and illustrators.

On Friday, Nov. 6, the authors will visit 19 different Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. On Saturday, Nov. 7, a free literary festival for children, young adults and families will be held at ImaginOn. EpicFest will feature activities to encourage a love of reading in kids of all ages, including LEGO building, robotics, early learning stations for toddlers, a coffee shop for teens, a family concert with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, a free book for each child attending, and book sales and signings with featured authors.

EpicFest is presented to the community by Wells Fargo, with additional support from NEH, The Charlotte Observer, American Airlines, Publix, Charlotte Parent and the Charlotte Hornets. EpicFest has been made possible through the generosity of the Jim Preston Family and has been created to remember and honor Elizabeth (Libby) Preston’s passion for reading and for encouraging and instilling a love of reading in children. EpicFest is expected to reach more than 1,500 students and parents.

“Wells Fargo is proud to partner with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation to present EpicFest to children and families in Mecklenburg County,” said Jay Everette, Senior Vice President & Community Affairs Manager at Wells Fargo. “EpicFest is a key opportunity to connect caregivers and families with the Library to help develop a child’s passion for reading.”

EpicFest will showcase award-winning authors:

• Byron Garrett, author, chair of the National Family Engagement Alliance, and recent Root 100 honoree. A free workshop with Garrett will take place on Nov. 6 at 9:00 a.m. at Beatties Ford Road.
• Tad Hills, a New York Times bestselling children’s book author and illustrator of the very popular Duck & Goose and Rocket series. 
• Claudia Mills, an author of over 50 books for young readers, including recent titles Zero Tolerance, The Trouble with Ants, and Izzy Barr, Running Star. Her books have been honored by the American Library Association and translated into half a dozen languages.
• Matt Myers, painter and illustrator of many children’s books, including Battle Bunny, Scarecrow Magic, What James Said, and Cock-A-Doodle-Doo-Bop.
• Lauren Oliver, a New York Times bestselling author of young adult novels Before I Fall, Panic, Vanishing Girls, and the Delirium trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem, which have been translated into more than 30 languages.
• Brendan Reichs, a Charlotte-native and co-author of the New York Times bestselling Virals series, including the latest release Terminal.
• Maya Van Wagenen, a 17-year-old, award-winning teen author. Her first full-length non-fiction book project, Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek, debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List.
• Melissa Thomson, an elementary school teacher in New York City and author of the Keena Ford series.
• Sheila Turnage, author of New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor winner Three Times Lucky.
• Carole Boston Weatherford, a New York Times bestselling author and poet, and recipient of multiple awards including a NAACP Image Award, Coretta Scott King Author Honor and more! Weatherford has more than 40 books of poetry, nonfiction and children's literature, including Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom.

A complete description of the authors, parking information, and schedule is available at http://foundation.cmlibrary.org/epicfest.

About the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation was established as a supporting organization in partnership with Foundation For The Carolinas. The Library Foundation exists to help the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library create a community where reading, learning, and imagination thrive. Created in 2012 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation supports the Library’s programs and services through advocacy, fundraising and building relationships with others who share a passion for the Library’s work. The Library Foundation supports library services, expands the Library’s print and electronic collections, enhances programming for all ages, and strives to grow an endowment to prepare for future needs of our Library system.

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