PBS to Livestream from 2017 National Book Festival

PBS Book View Now continues its mission to connect books and authors with people who love to read.

This Saturday (Sept. 2) it visits one of the most prestigious literary events in the country - the 2017 National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

PBS Book View Now will provide a full day of live interviews with some of the most prominent authors writing today, across a wide spectrum of genres.

More than 30 authors, participating in the festival, will sit down with Book View Now's longtime executive producer, Rich Fahle, for in-depth discussions of the writing life, the creative process and their latest books.

The interviews will be streamed on Facebook Live at Facebook.com/BookViewNow. Viewers will also have the unique opportunity to join in the conversation, by asking questions of their favorite authors via Facebook. (Follow @BookViewNow and use the hashtag #NatBookFest).

Here is just a sampling of the authors and the books they will be talking about:

· R.J. Palacio: Her first novel, "Wonder," a No. 1 New York Times best-seller, follows a 10-year-old boy with a facial disfigurement and the difficulties of being accepted. The movie adaptation, starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, opens in theaters in November. Palacio wrote and illustrated her latest book, "We're All Wonders," which featuring the characters from "Wonder" in a picture book for younger audiences.

· Diana Gabaldon: The best-selling author of the wildly popular Outlander series, which have sold more than 28 million copies. Her new book, "Seven Stones to Stand or Fall: A Collection of Outlander Fiction" comprises seven novellas of Outlander fiction, two of which have never been published before.

· Reshma Saujani: A lawyer and politician, Saujani founded the tech organization Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that works to close the gender gap in technology. She is the author of "Women Who Don't Wait in Line: Break the Mold, Lead the Way." Her latest book is "Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World"

· David McCullough: Known for meticulously researched and beautifully written historical books, such as "Truman" and "John Adams," David McCullough has earned two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Book Awards. His newest book on "The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stan" explores the core American values to which, even in these difficult times, we all subscribe.

· Marie Lu: The author of the best-selling "Legend" and "The Young Elites" series, Lu worked in the video game industry as an artist before becoming a full-time writer. Her new sci-fi thriller, "Warcross, " is about a game that goes viral and one girl who hacks her way into its dangerous depths.

· Don Winslow: A best-selling author of crime and mystery, Winslow has written 20 novels, including the acclaimed epics, "The Power of the Dog" and "The Cartel." His latest book, "The Force" is about a corrupt NYPD detective sergeant and comes from years of research within the NYPD.

The full schedule of interviews can be found at the PBS Book View Now website, where by Tuesday, Sept. 5, the author conversations will also be available on demand.

The Library of Congress is the world's largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States-and extensive materials from around the world-both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.

This is the 17th year that it has hosted the National Book Festival, which brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. It was created by Laura Bush and Librarian of Congress James H. Billington at the suggestion of Mrs. Bush, who had launched the Texas Book Festival. Learn more at http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

Produced for PBS by Detroit Public Television (DPTV), Book View Now provides coverage of literary festivals, fairs and major literary events across the country, celebrating books and writers and fostering a passion for reading among public media viewers and listeners.

At DPTV, we know that PBS audiences love books almost as much as they do intelligent, impactful and trustworthy television. We believe that the coverage of books and literature is an essential component of public television's commitment to arts and culture. It builds a bridge between writers and readers, which enriches the lives of both.

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