If you crane your neck to see what the person at the next table is reading, or tend to browse bookstores just to see what’s new – you’ll find yourself in paradise at the AJC Decatur Book Festival this Labor Day weekend.

In five short years, this festival has grown to be the largest independent book festival in the world. Over 300 authors are scheduled this year, including keynote speaker Jonathan Franzen, who will talk about his new book Freedom. Franzen was on the cover of Time magazine this month. Among the awards he won for The Corrections were the National Book Award in 2001, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 2002 and the PEN/Faulkner award.  The book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Like arts and crafts festivals, you will find a few authors sitting under tents, fanning themselves and happily talking about their work. Unlike arts and crafts festivals, there will be tents representing a few publishers, some organizations, literary or not, and some vendors selling book-related wares. A whole section is dedicated to children’s books, storytelling and children’s entertainment. Most of the authors are scheduled for talks, panel discussions and readings. There are generally book signings following the authors’ appearances – your chance to shake hands, maybe even (if the line is not too long) ask that burning question you’ve been wondering about, or simply gush and say how much you admire his or her writing.

The festival takes place on the grounds of the old courthouse in Decatur, with authors scheduled to speak in various venues, including First Baptist Church, Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur Library, Decatur City Hall and others.  (Some events are scheduled at Agnes Scott College. See the schedule.) There will be food, music and entertainment. A Writer’s Conference is scheduled, so if there a book inside you struggling to get out, this is a great place to get advice.

Parking is going to be tight, so MARTA is highly recommended. In past years, it’s been especially entertaining to leave the book festival and ride the train with the costumed attendees of Dragon-Con, held the same weekend in Atlanta.

Several other book and literary festivals are scheduled in the coming months. The Suwanee Festival of Books will be held Aug. 28-29 at the Suwanee Town Center Park. Authors include Terry Kay, Joseph Dabney, Patti Callahan Henry, Haywood Smith and Philip Lee Williams, among many.

The Southern Festival of Books will be held in Nashville October 8-10, with lots of opportunities to get up close and ask questions of your favorite authors.

Statesboro is holding the Georgia Literary Festival October 22-23 this year, with more than 20 authors. Put the Georgia Literary Festival for 2011 on your calendar. It will be held October 16 in beautiful Sautee Nacoochee, in the North Georgia mountains.

Photo of children in book festival parade by John Lenz, courtesy AJC Decatur Book Festival. Used with permission.