2012 National Book Festival

The 2012 National Book Festival was held on Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Our podcast series features one-on-one chats with some of this year's featured authors.

  • Audio Recording
    Jeff Kinney: 2012 National Book Festival Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Jeff Kinney, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyJeff Kinney is the author of the bestselling and award-winning Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which has more than 75 million copies in print worldwide. The seventh book in the…
    • Contributor: Jeff Kinney - Sheryl Cannady
    • Date: 2012-09-20
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    Wendy Cumberland: 2012 National Book Festival Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with Wendy Cumberland of the Junior League of Washington, which has volunteered at the Library of Congress National Book Festival since its inception.BiographyWendy Cumberland is president of the Junior League of Washington.
    • Contributor: Wendy Cumberland - Sheryl Cannady
    • Date: 2012-09-18
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    Stephen L. Carter: 2012 National Book Festival Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Stephen L. Carter, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyStephen L. Carter is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale University, where he has taught for almost 30 years. He is also the author of seven acclaimed…
    • Contributor: Stephen L. Carter - Sheryl Cannady
    • Date: 2012-09-17
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    Walter Isaacson: 2012 National Book Festival Roberta Shaffer from the Library of Congress speaks with author Walter Isaacson, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyWalter Isaacson is the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan educational and policy studies organization based in Washington. He has been the chairman and CEO of CNN and…
    • Contributor: Roberta Shaffer - Walter Isaacson
    • Date: 2012-09-14
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    Michael Connelly: 2012 National Book Festival Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Michael Connelly, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyMichael Connelly, who has sold more than 45 million books worldwide, decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. After graduating…
    • Contributor: Michael Connelly - Sheryl Cannady
    • Date: 2012-09-13
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    R.L. Stine: 2012 National Book Festival Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author R.L. Stine, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyR.L. Stine has sold more than 350 million books, making him one of the best-selling children’s authors in history. When he was 9, R.L. found an old typewriter in the attic.…
    • Contributor: R.L. Stine - Sheryl Cannady
    • Date: 2012-09-12
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    Sandra Cisneros: 2012 National Book Festival (Spanish) Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with author Sandra Cisneros, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographySandra Cisneros has worked as a teacher and a counselor to high school dropouts, an instructor of creative writing, a college recruiter, an arts administrator and as a visiting writer at…
    • Contributor: Francisco Macias - Sandra Cisneros
    • Date: 2012-09-11
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    Rafael López: 2012 National Book Festival (Spanish) Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with artist Rafael López, who illustrated the poster for the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival and will appear there on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyThis year’s Library of Congress National Book Festival poster artist is Rafael López, whose work is a fusion of strong, colorful graphic style and magical symbolism.…
    • Contributor: Francisco Macias - Rafael López
    • Date: 2012-09-11
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    Sandra Cisneros: 2012 National Book Festival (English) Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with author Sandra Cisneros, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographySandra Cisneros has worked as a teacher and a counselor to high school dropouts, an instructor of creative writing, a college recruiter, an arts administrator and as a visiting writer at…
    • Contributor: Francisco Macias - Sandra Cisneros
    • Date: 2012-09-11
  • Audio Recording
    Rafael López: 2012 National Book Festival (English) Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with artist Rafael López, who illustrated the poster for the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival and will appear there on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyThis year’s Library of Congress National Book Festival poster artist is Rafael López, whose work is a fusion of strong, colorful graphic style and magical symbolism.…
    • Contributor: Francisco Macias - Rafael López
    • Date: 2012-09-11
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    Craig Thompson: 2012 National Book Festival Jennifer Gavin from the Library of Congress speaks with author Craig Thompson, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyCraig Thompson’s first graphic novel, 1999’s “Good-bye, Chunky Rice,” debuted when he was just 23. His sophomore effort, “Blankets,” won numerous industry awards and has been published in nearly 20 languages.…
    • Contributor: Jennifer Gavin - Craig Thompson
    • Date: 2012-09-10
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    Lois Lowry: 2012 National Book Festival Jane Gilchrist from the Library of Congress speaks with author Lois Lowry, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.Biography“From the time I was 8 or 9, I wanted to be a writer,” says Lois Lowry. “Writing was what I liked best in school; it was what I did best…
    • Contributor: Jane Gilchrist - Lois Lowry
    • Date: 2012-09-07
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    Joy Harjo: 2012 National Book Festival Rob Casper from the Library of Congress speaks with poet Joy Harjo, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyJoy Harjo’s Muskogee Creek heritage has had a great influence on her poetry, as have her feminist and social interests. Harjo has received many honors, including the William Carlos Williams Award…
    • Contributor: Joy Harjo - Rob Casper
    • Date: 2012-09-05
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    Walter Dean Myers: 2012 National Book Festival Guy Lamolinara from the Library of Congress speaks with author Walter Dean Myers, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyCritically acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers has drawn from his own background and interests to produce more than 70 books for young people. He has been writing for and about…
    • Contributor: Guy Lamolinara - Walter Dean Myers
    • Date: 2012-09-04
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    Jewel: 2012 National Book Festival Jane Gilchrist from the Library of Congress speaks with author and songwriter Jewel, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographyJewel Kilcher says she got her love of language from her father, Yule, while she was growing up in Alaska, raised in a saddle barn. Perhaps best known as a…
    • Contributor: Jane Gilchrist - Jewel Kilcher
    • Date: 2012-08-31
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    Stephen Dunn: 2012 National Book Festival Rob Casper from the Library of Congress speaks with poet Stephen Dunn, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.BiographySince 1974, Stephen Dunn has taught at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, where he is Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing. He has also been a visiting professor at the University…
    • Contributor: Rob Casper - Stephen Dunn
    • Date: 2012-08-29
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    Patricia Cornwell: 2012 National Book Festival Guy Lamolinara from the Library of Congress speaks with author Patricia Cornwell, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.Biography“Red Mist” is Patricia Cornwell’s 19th novel featuring the medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. In 1979, Cornwell started as a reporter for The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer and soon thereafter became a crime…
    • Contributor: Guy Lamolinara - Patricia Cornwell
    • Date: 2012-08-27