Open Pages, Open Minds
The ninth annual Fort Collins Book Fest is just around the corner! This year’s event, runs February 7 – 17 and features 20 local and regional authors and storytellers. Among those storytellers are the 2025 headliners: festival headliner Deborah Jackson Taffa, author of Whiskey Tender: A Memoir, and children’s headliner Christine Day author of We Still Belong. Both authors lend Indigenous voices to stories of culture, identity, and belonging.
Mark Your Calendar
Writing Workshop Registration Opens
January 6 at 9 am
Register online via the Book Fest website. Space is limited. Please cancel your registration if you are unable to attend so someone on the waitlist can take the space.
An Evening with Deborah Jackson Taffa
February 15 at 7 pm
Fort Collins Marriott Hotel
Book sales and signing will follow the presentation hosted by The Crowded Bookshelf. Register via the libraries event calendar.
Kids’ Author Talk: We Still Belong with Christine Day
February 16 at 2:30 pm
Council Tree Library For kids in grades 3-5 and their families.
Register via the library’s event calendar. Space is limited. Please cancel your registration if you are unable to attend so someone on the waitlist can take the space.
Information about other Book Fest sessions is available at the Book Fest website. Organizers continue to refine the schedule and add new authors. Make sure to explore the site to find the right event for you and your family!
Don't Miss...
Fans of popular fiction genres will be thrilled with this year’s lineup of panel discussions including “Revealing Romantasy” with King and Vanessa Rasanen and “Horror with a Twist” with Jones, Devon A. Mihesuah, and Lindsay King-Miller. Both sessions are at The Lyric on Saturday, February 8.
Nonfiction and poetry lovers can find a variety of sessions throughout the event as well. Explore investigative writing in “Untold Histories: Exploring Marginalized Voices Through Memoir, Poetry, and Essay,” which includes Colorado poet Teow Lim Goh along with writers Shimoda and Hernandez. “Ask Me Anything: Poetry & Essays” features Erica Reid, Carol D. Guerrero-Murphy, CMarie Fuhrman, along with Goh.
If you’re looking for writing workshops, there are four sessions available covering poetry, nonfiction, documentary writing practices, and writing as neurodivergent authors. Please register to reserve your spot in the workshops at FoCoBookFest.org.
2025 Book Fest Artwork
This year’s original artwork, commemorating Open Pages Open Minds, is from local artist Imani Samuel.
“I was very inspired by the theme ‘Open Pages Open Minds’ so I took it both literally and figuratively,” Imani explains. “We have the literal open pages/book. And the idea of open minds comes from the light bulbs (ideas, brainstorming, etc.), wildflowers (to symbolize a wild and free imagination), starburst (symbolizing a ‘burst’ of ideas), clouds (symbolizing head in the clouds or dreaming), and a person playing to show the joy in trying new things and having an open mind, and another person peering into the open book to see the possibilities inside!”
You can pick up a free printed commemorative poster of Imani’s artwork at the Book Fest while supplies last.
Reading Challenge
Complete the Fort Collins Book Fest challenge on Beanstack, the Library’s digital platform for tracking reading and activities, to earn a commemorative magnet featuring the 2025 Book Fest artwork. If you’ve joined past library challenges (like Summer Adventure), use your existing account to enroll. New users can sign up at Poudrelibraries.beanstack.org.
Participate in the challenge from January 20 – February 28.
Fort Collins Book Fest Merchandise
Show your love for the book fest and help keep the event free to attend! Official festival merchandise is available for purchase online. All sales directly help fund the event and bring amazing authors to town. Visit our online store to browse the various designs. Each design is available in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes. We have everything from t-shirts and sweatshirts to hats and gift cards.
