Celebrating the printed word, a new festival of books is set to launch in downtown Kirkland this fall on Oct. 1–2.

The City of Kirkland and the King County Library System will be some of the community partners for the Northwest Bookfest. The long-term goal is to make this an annual fall event.

Book Publishers Network, Bothell, will coordinate the Northwest Bookfest as a community festival open to everyone. Publishers, booksellers and dozens of authors will be on hand to promote their latest offerings.

The two days of workshops, readings and book signings will encompass all genres of fiction and non-fiction, children’s books, young adult offerings, live performances in puppetry and storytelling, as well as resources for writers and readers, such as critique groups, writer’s organizations, book clubs and library functions.

Coordination with the City of Kirkland and King County Library System are major pluses for the festival, which will take place at several locales, indoors and outside, including the King County Kirkland branch library, the Kirkland Performance Center, the Peter Kirk Community Center and the Kirkland Teen Center.

“We want this to be the most entertaining and informative Bookfest ever,” says Sheryn Hara, owner of Book Publishers Network. “Right now, as we organize the entire event, we are looking for volunteers, authors, organizations, any who wants to have a role. Our theme is ‘It’s Raining Books!’”

The Whidbey Island Writer’s Group and Book Publishers Northwest have offered to create the education component of the festival, offering concurrent discussion sessions for writers and authors throughout the weekend.

Bookfest hours will run from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2.

For more information on how to get involved or to submit an application for booth space, contact Sheryn Hara, Book Publishers Network, sherynhara@earthlink.net, 425-483-3040.