McKinney Literary Fest

McKinney Literary Fest

Thank you for your interest in the McKinney Literary Fest! Our inaugural event was held on Aug. 17-18, 2024, and we are actively planning for 2025.

The staff at McKinney Public Library identified a need in our literary community to support local authors and provide a stage to showcase local talent. What started as an idea to host a small gathering of local authors quickly evolved into a full-fledged literary fest!

During the inaugural event, we were able to spotlight over 50 local authors through readings, table sales, workshops, and panel discussions. Over 200 guests participated and visited the library to drop into different sessions throughout the weekend.

Feedback: If you participated, we’d love your feedback. Please fill out this survey to help us improve the event for next year.

Interest Form: If you would like to participate next year, please complete this interest form.

Virtual Tour: If you are interested in exploring more, access the virtual tour to the 2024 Literary Fest for more information on the authors, readings, and presentations.

2024 Participating Authors

Alex Aaronson
Advance to Contact: 1980

Beth Ayers
Tracks Through Harlem - The One in Georgia

Dr. Carie S. Tucker King
Moderator for closing session

Carl Reinelt

Catherine L'Herisson
The Limping Mermaid

Claudia Alonso
Moose and Cow are Friends

Dave Lieber

David Huntley
The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: A WWII Final Honor

David Nos
Kordan the Wizard

Frank Hiri
Great A Gain Version of the Nation. Volume 1-5

Gay Ann Kiser
Take Three

George Getschow
Pastures of the Empty Page

Gjekë Marinaj
Teach Me How to Whisper Horses and Other Poems

Heath Dollar
Old Country Fiddle

Immanual Joseph
The Road to Kedarnath

Isaac Philo
Unpublished Poetry

Jack Duncan
Before I Was Five: Growing Up In McKinney During WWII

Jake Evans
Rise of the Oceanborn

Jalyn Renae Fiske
Side Quest: Stories (upcoming collection)

Jan Sikes
A Beggar’s Bargain

Jaye McLaughlin
Representing the Tejas Storytellers

Jeni Tomlinson (Illustrator)
Zee Works Alone

Jessica Jones
Mommy, Will You Rub My Feet?

John Alexander

Jolene Whitten
The Archer's Mark

Judy Lowe
Little White Light

Kevin Magavern
Forgetting Kora

Kristina Downs
Representing the Texas Folklore Society

Laura Bull
From Individual to Empire: A Guide to Building an Authentic and Powerful Brand

Linda Bonner
Blessed with Extraordinary: Support and resources for families of children with Down Syndrome

Lisa Hammett
From Burnout to Best Life, How to Take Charge of Your Health & Happiness  

Lopa Banerjee
All That Jazz and Other Pathbreaking Tales

Lyndsey Lewelle
The Chaos Grid

Lynn Molner
Hero the Golden

Mackie Shiflett
Son of Enoch; The Last Prophet

Marina Osipova
The Victims of Victory

Mary Brodsky (Author)
Zee Works Alone

Mary Karlik
Not Crushing on the Cowboy

Meredith Nurge
Mommy Wears a Mask

Michelle Miles
Enchanted Realms

Nirmani Walpola
The Midnight Warriors

Paul Thompson
Drosselmeyer: Curse of the Rat King

Peggy and Gene Helmick-Richardson
Forty Years of Texas Storytelling

Rachel Stephens
The Lark with Broken Wings

Roxanne Hodge
The Long Road Back

Samantha Raymer
The Legend of Moonglade

Sheila Williamson
Two Calls Blossoming Faith: Keeping Hope Alive

Susan Mardele

Suzanne Ferrell
Close to Home

Sylvia Medel
Ageless and Endless: Journey to Poetry

Travis Davis
One of Four: World War One Through the Eyes of an Unknown Soldier

William Dean Patterson
Deathgod; a thriller