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Mason Family Flash

Fall for the Book Goes Virtual


In the year of COVID-19 and our 22nd festival, Fall for the Book is making a radical change. We’re excited to announce that we’re going virtual! Authors from all over will join us, including our headliners Rainbow Rowell, Tommy Orange, Edwidge Danticat, and Mason Reads author of Wolfpack, Abby Wambach. In addition, we’ll be joined by Porochista Khakpour, Emily Wilson, David Marwell, Art Taylor, and many more distinguished authors. Instead of hosting four days filled to the brim with programs, Fall for the Book will extend from September through November – a whole season of great literary events right at your fingertips. Join us on #FallfortheBookFridays at 12 p.m. (noon) and for other special events throughout the semester. Taking the festival online keeps us all safe while extending our borders across the nation and around the world.

“In this time of great societal, economic, environmental and biophysical turmoil, literature offers a conduit to share the human experience realized through fiction,” said Jennifer Disano, Board Chair of Fall for the Book. Reading has always had the power to connect people, to encourage empathy, and to shine a light on lives unlike our own. In this new digital landscape, that hasn’t changed. The literary community is adapting swiftly, bringing us together in new and exciting ways, giving us a chance to be part of something enlightening, inspirational, and fun–all from the comfort and safety of our own homes. With fewer barriers to access Fall for the Book’s events, we’re elevating our status to “on demand”; now you can settle in with your kids to watch a live, interactive event with their favorite illustrator, or get a front-row seat to a talk with a writer who lives half a world away, no plane ticket required. By bringing the festival online, we hope to further unite the George Mason campus with the local community, while making meaningful connections with people wherever they live.

The impact of COVID is far-reaching, and like small businesses, non-profit organizations are feeling the effects. Support Fall for the Book by joining our Online Trivia Night fundraiser tonight, Tuesday, July 28 at 7:00. Details can be found at fallforthebook.org/trivianights or register on Eventbrite.

About us: Fall for the Book is Northern Virginia’s oldest and largest festival of literature and the arts. All events are free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of sponsors including the Fairfax County Public Library, George Mason University, the Fairfax Library Foundation, and the City of Fairfax. For more information, visit fallforthebook.org.

Kate Lewis
Marketing Director
Fall for the Book

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