Write Away
Ready to geek out over books? Celebrate the joy of reading and writing together at Books by the Banks!
The day-long festival, which is free and open to the public, features national, regional, and local authors and illustrators; book signings; panel discussions, along with activities for the entire family.
Organized by local libraries and booksellers with support from sponsors, the festival includes the chance to visit authors from a range of genres — from science fiction to graphic novels to local interest and more — along with fun and informative author panels and book signings.
Books by the Banks Cincinnati Regional
Book Festival
Saturday, Nov, 15, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m at the
Main Library, Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Public Library
800 Vine St.
Admission is free.
This year’s headliner is New York Times-bestselling author Tessa Bailey. Known for her character-driven romances, Bailey’s books includeeIt Happened One Summer, Pitcher Perfect, The Au Pair Affair, and Fangirl Down. She will be conversation with Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Library’s Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director.
You can also catch Silas House, the festival’s featured author. Born and based in Kentucky, Silas House is a New York Times bestselling author of seven novels, including Clay’s Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves, The Coal Tattoo, Eli the Good, Same Sun Here, Southernmost, and Lark Ascending. House also served as the Poet Laureate of Kentucky from 2023-2025. Hear him talk about his work in conversation with Yalie Kamara, former Cincinnati poet laureate.
At the author panels, you’ll have the chance to listen to your favorite authors as they talk about their work, the creative process, and more in these fun and informative discussions.
Other featured authors at Books by The Banks include
Derrick Barnes, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut as well as the Ruby and the Booker Boys series
Sharon Draper, two-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for books about the young and adolescent African-American experience
Margaret Peterson Haddix, known best for the children's series Shadow Children and The Missing
Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid
Rob Sheffield, author and long time contributing editor at Rolling Stone
Carole Boston Weatherford, New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 Newbery and Caldecott award-winning books for children and young adults
You can meet all of the authors in the Author Pavilion. Each author will have their newest book for sale at the tables, and in some cases, past titles as well. Book sales sustain the festival and help us bring a fantastic author lineup to the Cincinnati region year after year. Buy for yourself — or get some holiday shopping finished. Attendees are allowed to bring their own books to the festival, but we strongly encourage you to browse the more than 150 titles for sale.
The Kids Corner features activities all day, including a workshop with author and illustrator Andy J. Pizza, and balloon fun with Cincinnati Circus, and an author workshop with Yukiko Ryburn and The Kokeshi Project, opens a new window team. The Teen Scene also has an exciting all-day lineup including a graphic novel demonstration with Shawn Pryor, crafts, and VIP author meet and greets.