KATONAH, N.Y. - Following a sold-out inaugural event last year, the Westchester Book Festival will return Saturday, Nov. 7, with an expanded lineup of acclaimed authors, Pulitzer Prize winners and bestselling writers gathering for a day of literary discussions, book signings and conversations.
Now in its second year, the festival will feature twice as many venues and literary sessions as its 2025 debut, bringing together novelists, journalists, historians and cultural commentators to explore topics ranging from fiction and memoir to politics, history and current affairs.
Among this year's highlights will be a discussion featuring historian David Nasaw and novelist and military veteran Kevin Powers, moderated by distinguished war correspondent Chip Reid. The panel will examine the lasting effects of war on soldiers and society, drawing on the authors' respective works and experiences.
Nasaw, an award-winning biographer and historian, is the author of The Wounded Generation, while Powers, a New York Times bestselling author and veteran, is known for his novel The Yellow Birds, which explores the experiences of American soldiers during the Iraq War.
Festival chairman John Glusman said the expanded program reflects the enthusiastic response to last year's event while offering a broader range of literary voices and subjects.
"We have another amazing line-up of authors this year but twice as many as last year, from New York Times bestselling authors to Pulitzer Prize winners," Glusman said. "Women writers and fiction are more prominently featured, and there will be lively and deeply informed discussions about relationships, the environment, and what it's like to return home after service to your country as explored by historian David Nasaw and novelist and veteran Kevin Powers."
The festival's roster also includes Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Hernan Diaz, bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell, journalist and author Anand Giridharadas, and Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental writer Elizabeth Kolbert.
Other featured participants include memoirist and cultural critic Ada Calhoun, novelist Maria Semple, author and gathering expert Priya Parker, Emmy-winning correspondent David Pogue, former CIA analyst and novelist David McCloskey, and award-winning author 'Pemi Aguda.
Rounding out the lineup are writers Madeline Cash and Perrin Roosevelt Ireland, whose works contribute to a diverse program spanning contemporary fiction, environmental issues, personal relationships and cultural commentary.
In addition to moderated discussions and literary panels, attendees will have opportunities to meet authors, attend book signings and purchase books. The festival will also feature an Authors' Corner in partnership with the Katonah Reading Room, a local bookstore and festival partner.
Local businesses and the Katonah Chamber of Commerce will also participate in the festivities, helping extend the celebration beyond the festival's literary sessions.
"The response to our first festival exceeded every expectation," said Glusman, who is also vice president and executive editor at W.W. Norton & Company. "Readers, authors, publishers, volunteers, and local businesses embraced the event warmly. This year we're expanding significantly to bring even more conversations, more authors, and more opportunities for readers to engage with ideas and storytelling."
Founded in 2025 by publishing professionals, editors, literary agents and book enthusiasts, the Westchester Book Festival is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to celebrating literature, promoting literacy and supporting local libraries.
The festival's organizers hope to build on the momentum of last year's debut by establishing the event as an annual gathering for readers and writers throughout Westchester and the surrounding region.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and the latest festival schedule, visit www.westchesterbookfest.org.
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