Let’s bring our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing great books! The inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival on the University of San Diego campus is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees will enjoy panel discussions with award-winning authors, activities, live entertainment, exhibitors including local authors and independent booksellers, and more.
KPBS San Diego Book Festival
Presented by
Saturday, August 22, 2026
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Let’s bring our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing great books! KPBS San Diego Book Festival on the University of San Diego campus is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees will enjoy panel discussions with award-winning authors, activities, live entertainment, exhibitors including local authors and independent booksellers, and more.
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Featured Authors
Explore the voices shaping today’s literary landscape at the 2026 KPBS San Diego Book Festival. New authors released each week!
Pulitzer Prize-winner, Michael Hiltzik - Golden State: The Making of California
Claudette Zepeda -Cooking the Borderlands: Spice and Smoke Between Mexico and the States
Brad Ryan - Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time
Dr. Neftalie Williams -The Skateboard Life: Movers, Shakers, Makers & Rulebreakers: The Quintessential Story of Skateboard Culture
Chris Duffy - Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy
April Dávila - Sit. Write. Here. 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less
Elizabeth DeLozier - The Whitechapel Full Moon Society
Dr. Cassidy Freitas - Mom Needs A Moment: How to Stop Your Reaction Before It Starts...and Become a Calmer, Happier, More Connected Parent
Leslie Priscilla - Chancla: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture through Nonviolent Parenting
Reyna Grande - Migrant Heart: Essays on Things I Can't Forget
Richard Louv - Noticing: Intimate Encounters With the Natural World
Merryl Goldberg - Notes of Deception: How a Quartet of American Musicians Outwitted the KGB – The Untold Russian History of a Daring Cold War Mission
Max Brallier - The Last Comics on Earth: Across the Doodleverse
Salina Yoona - Kat & Mouse: Let's Have a Sleepover
Deborah Underwood - The Fairy Tale Fixers: Cinderella
Greg Karber - Bordergrams 2: A Quest for the Queen
Sumayyah (Maya) Beck - Airrelle of the Maroon Witches
Oliver James - Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok
María Dolores Águila - A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
Author Exhibitors
Check out over 90 author exhibitors joining us this year in The Writers' Block area of the festival. Authors are listed in alphabetical order. The Writers' Block will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Matt Abraham, Petty, Greedy, and Evil
- Christina Abt, The Secret Sand Circle
- Leah Aguirre, Is This Really Love? and co-author of The Girl's Guide to Relationships, Sexuality, and Consent
- Stephanie Aleman, Bootsie the Senior Dog
- Marie Andreas, Hunter
- Nicolette Andrews, Dragon's Temptation
- Maribel Angulo, Peek-A-Photo: Where's My Family?
- Nydia Armendia-Sanchez, Frida Kahlo's Flower Crown / Frida Kahlo y su corona de Flores
- Mark Bacon, The Woke and the Dead
- Elissa Barber, Grouchy Bear’s Adventure - Twice the Fun
- Scott T. Barnes, Chaos Woods
- Ciara Blume, The Magpie Oracle of Sense and Serendipity
- Gregg Brandalise, The Death Of Us All
- Elene Bratton, Jamie's Joy Honoring Grief, Creating Legacy & Celebrating Life
- Barbara Burton, A Walk Down Rushville
- Anna Bushi, Curse of the River
- Stephanie Cadiero, The Value of Broken Things
- Ralph Cates, The Renaissance of Hope: Creating the Green New Deal
- Kiersten Dunbar Chace, She Who Holds the Wind
- Tiffany Ciccone, Anxious with Jesus: A Memoir from the Messy Intersection of Faith and Mental Illness
- Jesus Cortes, God’s GPS
- Derek Cressman, Virtuality
- Roshonda Cureton, Dark Psychology Secrets Revealed
- Fifi Curtis, Hope Is All I Had; The Memoir of A Pedro Pan Girl
- Herbert De Leon, Alamat Book Series
- Lianne Downey, Perception: A Novel
- Travis Easter, T.V. Holiday's Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 3
- Emporium of Wondrous Tomes: Stephen Prendergast, H.D. Scott
- Stephen Prendergast, The Sword of Digez, The Cult of Tuphrak
- H.D. Scott, Glik's Fables, I Just Woke Up
- The Escondido Writers Group: Karen Black, Mike Casper, Krystina Coles, Tanya Ross
- Karen Black: Code of Conduct, Not the Same Water, Tinman, Deadly Deception, Fortitude, The Gamble
- Mike Casper: Stone Thrower
- Krystina Coles: Sunblood, Moonshadow, Once Upon a Realm
- Tanya Ross: Rising Up, Facing Off, Bleeding Out
- Carly Feldman, The Rememberer
- Janessa Ferreira, A Gift for Santa Claus: A Christmas Tradition
- Sarah Flocken, Be Well
- Matthew Guzman, Rieden Reece and the Dark Shadow
- Haaah™, Connect with Words: Word Search Meets Journaling Book Series
- Dr. David Q. Hall, Death Most Unholy
- Jill G. Hall, On a Sundown Sea: A Novel of Madame Tingley and the Origins of Lomaland
- Theresa Halvorsen, Dreams Under Glass
- Megan Haskell, Quenched in Secrets
- Molly Heck, Superhero is a Verb
- Charlena Henderson, Why Are You Still Stuck On It, On Them?
- Regina Hiremath, Lessons on the Way to Onesome
- Patrick Hirsch, PRIMED
- Horror Writers Association San Diego
- Lucy Jensen, Granny's Magic Tree
- Jessica Joelson, Forest Friends - The Last Tree
- Kyle Kaminski, The Resistants: Bounty Hunter Blitz
- Katelynsam, The Fated
- Veena Katikineni, Dosa Day
- Brendan Kelly, The Echo of Silence
- Kristin Kelly, Uma's Head
- S. Kensington, Just Another Girl on the Road
- Brittany Larsen, Fa-La La-La Land
- Richard Lederer, American History for Everyone
- Dennis Macaraeg, At First Bloom
- Scott Mallory, Snapshots and Memories
- Ada M. Marin, M.D., Going From No and Frowning to Yes and Smiling: How 'Nellie Minus' Became 'Nellie Plus'
- Erik Martin, The Case of the Niceferatu
- Peter McBride, Dropping In on the Waves of Life -Something’s Brewin’!
- Natasha Minier-Robinson, My Heart Is Home
- Mint in Box Press
- Simone Nobili, Lizard Life
- Geraldine O’Sullivan, The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls: The Inside Scoop on Dealing with School, Friends, Emotions, and Other Big, Big Changes and co-author of The Girl's Guide to Relationships, Sexuality, and Consent
- Partners in Crime - San Diego Chapter of Sisters in Crime
- S. Pascarella, Lore of Tir Nan Og
- Kendra Pearce, Wolf of Fury
- Kate Pelczar, Chills in the Desert
- Kenneth Pinckney, The Hills We Climb, Love it Hate it Embrace, Life Journey
- John Pitner and illustrator, Tony Washington, The Agitators: A Reminiscence
- Madi Power, Tucks Green Heart: Navigating with Navi
- Deborah Rudell, Grit & Grace: The Transformation of a Ship & a Soul
- William Rundle, The Eternal Life of God and You
- Isaac Salcido, The Day I Became a Cholo
- Julie Seyler, Gluten For Punishment: Just Desserts for the Heartbroken, Lovesick, and Jilted
- Malik Sharif Sickstein, I Grab The Mic
- Susie Kara Slater, Urban Trails: San Diego
- Rita Joiner Soza, Straight Out of Barrio Hollywood: The Adventures of Telemundo Co-founder Frank H. Cruz
- Kendall Stark, Silent Soldiers
- Bethel Swift, Artist & Author
- Maria Tillmanns, Pixie, the Philosopher's Cat
- Dr. Mary Travelbest, 5 Steps to Solo Travel, Part C: Adventuring Alone, A Woman's Guide to Confidence, Courage, and AI on the Road
- Taryn Tyler, Heart Splatters
- Jasmine Walls, The Traitor & The Wretch
- Jillian Wilson, Kaia and her Magical Kite
- Diane Wintz, Sassafras Street: Human Connection through the Eyes of Caregivers
- K. Wright, A Heart of Ice, A Heart of Stone.
Get Involved!
Sponsors
Many thanks to our 2026 Festival Sponsors and Partners!
Presenting Sponsor
Premier VIP Sponsor
Endorsing Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
Exhibitors
Aber Stoat Books (& Publishing), Bluebird Books, Bona Fide Bookworm, Book Barn Galore, Books for Ages Bookmobile, California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) Area XI, San Diego and Imperial Counties, Coronado Public Library, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Feeding San Diego - Hunger Action Heroes Unite!, Friends of the San Diego Public Library, Habbi Habbi Bilingual Books & Toys, Hey Books!, Journey Press, KPBS Kids, KPBS Membership, KPBS Public Matters, LOVINGLOG, Market by Mari, One Book, One San Diego, Online Smiles, Point Loma Nazarene University, Writer's Symposium by the Sea, Point Loma Nazarene University, Writing, M.A., Quiet Quail Books, San Diego Poetry Annual, San Diego Writers, Ink, San Diego State University English and Comparative Literature Department, San Diego State University Press, Slvr Pynx, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators California: San Diego, The Limitless TBR, the little wild library, The Studi Plan Collective, TheFinestSD.org, University of San Diego Admissions, University of San Diego College of Arts and Sciences, University of San Diego Copley Library, University of San Diego Humanities Center, University of San Diego Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego School of Law, University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES), Write Out Loud, and You Should Read.
Community Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
As your trusted PBS and NPR station, KPBS is all about community. We’ve been sharing stories that inspire and inform for 65 years, providing locally and nationally-produced news, entertainment, educational, and lifestyle programming for all ages, as well as events and resources that help build a strong and vibrant community.
KPBS offers a number of engagement initiatives annually, with one specifically focused on celebrating reading and books.
Our One Book, One San Diego program has focused on bringing our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing great books since 2007. One Book, One San Diego is our region's premier literary program, presented in partnership between KPBS and over 80 public libraries, service organizations, and educational institutions. The One Book program reaches 70,000+ people through engagement efforts and 1 million+ via radio, TV, social media and other media platforms.
Now we’re celebrating our passion for literacy and community, with a festival made for San Diego readers like you. Our newly added KPBS San Diego Book Festival will provide opportunities for locals of all ages to come together around their shared love of books, learning, and literacy.
KPBS offers a number of engagement initiatives annually, with one specifically focused on celebrating reading and books.
Our One Book, One San Diego program has focused on bringing our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing great books since 2007. One Book, One San Diego is our region's premier literary program, presented in partnership between KPBS and over 80 public libraries, service organizations, and educational institutions. The One Book program reaches 70,000+ people through engagement efforts and 1 million+ via radio, TV, social media and other media platforms.
Now we’re celebrating our passion for literacy and community, with a festival made for San Diego readers like you. Our newly added KPBS San Diego Book Festival will provide opportunities for locals of all ages to come together around their shared love of books, learning, and literacy.
The inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival was held in 2025. It is a free event for book lovers of all ages. Attendees will enjoy panel discussions with award-winning authors, activities, live entertainment, exhibitors including independent booksellers, and more.
The KPBS San Diego Book Festival will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the University of San Diego campus. The event is rain or shine.
Share your organization with book lovers and storytellers from across our region. The form to explore partnership opportunities for the 2026 Festival will close July 15, 2026.
It takes a village! Help us make the festival a success. The form to volunteer for the 2026 Festival will close June 1, 2026.
Feel free to reach out to us at bookfestival@kpbs.org with questions or concerns.
As an educational institution committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition, USD recognizes the fundamental role of free inquiry, academic freedom and freedom of expression. It is the expectation of the university that guests, guest speakers and members of the university community “engage in those issues and perspectives in a manner consistent with the mission and core values of the university,” per policy. Hosting of events and guest speakers balance the university’s commitment to free expression with the need to protect the safety and security of our community. It must also take into account the time of such activities, venue and manner in which the information is presented. Anyone who impedes the operations of the university or threatens the physical safety of members of the community will not be permitted on campus.
The sponsorship of a guest does not imply that either the university or the sponsoring organization approves or endorses the views expressed by the guest speaker.
By adhering to these guidelines and principles, USD aims to foster an environment that respects free speech while maintaining a clear boundary between personal political activities and university operations.
The sponsorship of a guest does not imply that either the university or the sponsoring organization approves or endorses the views expressed by the guest speaker.
By adhering to these guidelines and principles, USD aims to foster an environment that respects free speech while maintaining a clear boundary between personal political activities and university operations.
The University of San Diego is committed to upholding standards that promote respect and human dignity in an environment that fosters academic excellence and professionalism. It is the policy of the university to maintain an educational and work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.
To that end, the university prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of its employees, students or guests on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, shared ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, physical disability, mental disability, or other characteristic protected by federal or state law, unless a particular characteristic is a bona fide requirement of the position. All members and guests of the university community are expected to uphold this policy. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
To that end, the university prohibits and does not tolerate unlawful discrimination against or harassment of its employees, students or guests on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, shared ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, age, physical disability, mental disability, or other characteristic protected by federal or state law, unless a particular characteristic is a bona fide requirement of the position. All members and guests of the university community are expected to uphold this policy. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action.