Benicia Library to Host Second Annual Local Author Book Festival

The event will feature 30 writers from Benicia and Solano County, with a focus on celebrating the local literary community.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stack of books in various shades of blue, green, and orange, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the diverse literary works showcased at the Benicia Local Author Book Festival.The Benicia Library's annual celebration of local literary talent brings a vibrant, artistic energy to the community.Benicia Today

The Benicia Public Library, in partnership with Benicia Literary Arts, is preparing to host its second annual Local Author Book Festival on April 19. The event will feature 30 authors from Benicia and Solano County, a decrease from last year's 50 participants, in order to create a more focused and localized celebration of the region's literary talent. The festival will include a Q&A panel, allowing attendees to interact with the writers and learn more about their inspirations and writing processes.

Why it matters

The Local Author Book Festival is an important event for the Benicia community, as it highlights the vibrant artistic and literary scene in the area. By showcasing local writers and poets, the festival celebrates the diverse voices and creative energy within the region, fostering a sense of community pride and engagement.

The details

The Local Author Book Festival will kick off National Library Week at the Benicia Public Library on April 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Featured authors include Richard May, members of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association, Michael Lester, Jill White, and Dr. Jeannie Celestial. The event will feature a Q&A panel, allowing participants to interact with the authors and learn more about their writing processes.

  • The Local Author Book Festival will take place on April 19, 2026.
  • National Library Week is observed from April 19-25, 2026.

The players

Geoffrey Jacobs

Librarian II for Benicia Public Library, who stated that limiting the event to authors from Benicia and Solano County will help make the event run more smoothly and localize it further.

Richard May

Featured author, member of the Bay Area Queer Writers Association, and author of 'Gay All Year' and 'Because of Roses: Ten stories'.

Michael Lester

Featured author of 'Dispatch from Benicia: The Strait Story'.

Jill White

Featured author of 'Memoirs of a Feral Cat: A Curious Tale'.

Dr. Jeannie Celestial

Featured author of 'The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook' and co-editor and co-author of 'Clinical Interventions for Internalized Oppression'.

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What they’re saying

“Logically, limiting the event to authors from Benicia and Solano County will make the event run a little smoother. It helps to narrow the focus and localize it a lot more.”

— Geoffrey Jacobs, Librarian II for Benicia Public Library

“It gives (participants) more insight into how the process works when they wrote their books, and how they turned their dream into a reality.”

— Geoffrey Jacobs, Librarian II for Benicia Public Library

“Any artist who has something that they want to do or write or say ought to be able to have the platform to do so. They should be celebrated, especially at a time when unity can be kind of a hard thing to come by.”

— Geoffrey Jacobs, Librarian II for Benicia Public Library

What’s next

The Benicia Library will continue to host a variety of events and activities throughout National Library Week to celebrate reading and promote community engagement.

The takeaway

The Local Author Book Festival is an important annual event that showcases the vibrant literary community in Benicia and Solano County, providing a platform for local writers and poets to share their work and connect with the community.