![2021 book festival logo stacked web copy.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb7bbd_a7becaf389c347e88935db099a8663f6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_629,h_341,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/2021%20book%20festival%20logo%20stacked%20web%20copy.jpg)
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Welcome to the 4th annual Albany Book Festival, presented by the NYS Writers Institute at the University at Albany, featuring world-renowned authors, local authors, and online workshops on writing and publishing. Stay tuned for more information on the event schedule, online workshops, and more!
Events subject to change.
![Albany Book Festival](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb7bbd_35e31f7aca31412680f7dcfd793f6bc4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_352,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/bb7bbd_35e31f7aca31412680f7dcfd793f6bc4~mv2.jpg)
Book signing
![Joyce Carol Oates](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb7bbd_468040c9d35e46f38b9bcee2996c009e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_500,h_333,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/bb7bbd_468040c9d35e46f38b9bcee2996c009e~mv2.jpg)
Discussing her new novel
![Joining the conversation](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb7bbd_21c00e579b944c5a8335c2fc44f20bac~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_500,h_333,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/bb7bbd_21c00e579b944c5a8335c2fc44f20bac~mv2.jpg)
Question and answer with authors
![Albany Book Festival](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb7bbd_35e31f7aca31412680f7dcfd793f6bc4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_488,h_352,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/bb7bbd_35e31f7aca31412680f7dcfd793f6bc4~mv2.jpg)
Book signing
![State Author and State Poet.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb7bbd_d0355427ad104b3da7a8c4fed71e956f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_72,w_525,h_205/fill/w_296,h_118,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/State%20Author%20and%20State%20Poet.jpg)
Friday, September 24th
Join us for our Albany Book Festival kickoff event: the installation ceremony for our new NYS Author Ayad Akhtar and NYS Poet Willie Perdomo.
Akhtar will receive the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit for Fiction and Perdomo will receive the Walt Whitman Citation of Merit for Poetry at a special ceremony to be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at the University at Albany’s Campus Center West Auditorium.
Free and open to the public.
More information.
New York State Poet
Willie Perdomo
New York State Author
Ayad Akhtar
COVID PROTOCOL FOR ALL IN-PERSON EVENTS: All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask or other face covering while inside any UAlbany owned, operated or leased building. Unvaccinated individuals are also required to wear face coverings in all outdoor settings. This revised mask requirement will remain in place until the University removes the requirement upon the recommendations of the CDC or other public health officials. Individuals should not attend our in-person events if they—or anyone in their household—are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.
For the most up-to-date event information, visit our website: www.nyswritersinstitute.org
A special thank you to our sponsors
Premier:
Bruce Piasecki &
The Creative Force Fund
Presenting:
Pernille Ægidius Dake
George and Kathleen McNamee
Renaissance Corporation of Albany
Charles Touhey and Alice Green
University Auxiliary Services
Supporting:
Ellen Jabbur
Stuyvesant Plaza
Times Union
Friend:
Laurie Bank and Stuart Freyer
A. Andrew Casano, MD & Bella Pipas
The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
Bernard F. Conners Foundation
CDPHP
Fenimore Asset Management / FAM Funds
Doris Fischer Malesardi
The Foy Fund
Henry Greenberg
Paul and Mary Grondahl
Friend:
Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.
William and Dana Kennedy
William & Mary Jean Krackeler
Cecilia Lauenstein & Ronald Nadeau
Betsy Lopez
Modern Press
Jeffrey Pollard
Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC
Mackin & Casey
Susan Novotny
Roberta and Bob Redmond
Mary Scanlan
Herb and Cynthia Shultz
Jim and Teresa Stellar
Steve McKee Foundation
UAlbany William L. Reese Emeritus Center Three Voices Grant Program
All Book Festival photos courtesy of UAlbany Photos/Patrick Dodson