NewsThe Arts and Businesses Behind Books
Whether you’re fascinated by bookbinding, curious about publishing, or just passionate about books, these events cover all the chapters in a book’s life. Celebrating the artistry and industry behind publishing, …
NewsHistorical Figures at the Virginia Festival of the Book
The Virginia Festival of the Book brings together an extraordinary array of authors who explore history, politics, music, and leadership. This year’s lineup includes works that delve into espionage, presidential …
NewsPrint Program Now Available
Want a sneak peek at our print program? You can download a PDF here. These will be available during the festival at event venues, local bookstores, and our info table …
NewsUnforgettable Stories
Memoirs at the Virginia Festival of the Book – Whether you love deeply personal journeys, historical parallels, hilarious reflections, or thought-provoking narratives, these works promise to captivate and inspire. Here’s a look at some of the life stories featured at this year’s festival and the panels where you can find their tellers.
Event2nd Saturday Workshop – Joomchi: Korean Paper Crafting w/Catherine Cross Tsintzos
Joomchi is a traditional Korean paper craft that creates textured handmade paper using your hands and water. Explore ways to manipulate strong Korean mulberry Hanji papers, as the strength of these papers allows for the creation of felted and leather-like appearances robust enough to support stitches, inclusions, and appliqué.
EventFestival of the Book Artist’s Talk: The 2025 Festival Artwork with Emmy Thacker
Do you love the 2025 Virginia Festival of the Book artwork? Then, meet the person behind the vibrant, engaging colors and Virginia-centric images! Former Virginia Center for the Book Coordinator Emmy Thacker presents an artist’s talk on her concepts behind the design of this year’s posters, postcards, bookmarks, and other pieces.
NewsMysteries, Thrillers, and Crime
This year’s festival offers curated panels of stories that promise to keep lovers of suspense, mystery, and page-turning thrills guessing until the end. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of intricate …
EventSecond Saturday Workshop – Long-stitch Journal w/Lotta Helleberg
In this workshop on Saturday, April 12, we will learn to create a paper-covered journal using long-stitch binding. We will begin by enhancing the cover with watercolors and other techniques, then prepare the signatures and cover for binding.
EventIntroduction to Marbled Paper w/Brittani Locke
Try your hand at the classic technique of marbled paper! Students will learn how to suspend paint on a gel bath to create various marbled patterns with tools and combs. You will capture your designs by dipping paper into the colorful bath to make dozens of decorative papers that can be used for bookbinding and paper projects.
EventFestival of the Book: Demonstration – The Arts & Crafts of Bookmaking
Join the Book Arts program members in their pressroom as they demonstrate hand printing on their Vandercook and C&P letterpresses. Additional printmaking activities will take place in the classroom using their Craft and Book Beetle presses. They will also offer a hands-on bookmaking and binding experience.
EventFestival of the Book Artist’s Talk: Paper Marbling w/Brittani Locke
Join surface designer Brittani Locke at the Center for the Book as she explores traditional marbling techniques that go beyond endpapers, including fore-edge decoration, book cloth, and wearable fabrics. Locke is renowned for her hand-marbled endpapers and has received commissions from private collectors and book publishers.
EventSecond Saturday Workshop – French Link Book Structure w/Lyall Harris
Join us for this workshop on March 08, where you will learn how to sew a French link stitch around ribbons to create a blank book. Next, you’ll transform your sewn pages into a finished product by attaching the ribbons to a paper cover.
