FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2025
Contact: Ryan M. Place: ryan@detroitbookfest.com

Book Festival Announces Additional Panelists for July 18 ‘Bookfest at the Main’

Fresh off unveiling its first-ever “Bookfest at the Main” featuring author talks at the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Festival of Books today announced an additional four authors have signed up to join the current roster of panelists at the library. “Bookfest at the Main” will run from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, July 18, two days prior to the Sunday, July 20, annual festival in Eastern Market.

Portions of the program will be featured on PBS’s national program “PBS Books,” which is produced in Detroit. The newly announced participants in “Bookfest at the Main” will include:

• Melissa F. Kaelin, writer, painter, photographer, and author of “The 45th Parallel Series,” an expert on catching aurora borealis (northern lights) in Michigan and other nearby states.
• Vanessa Ivy Rose, podcaster and granddaughter and biographer of the late Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Baseball Hall of Famer and centerfielder for the Detroit Stars, Detroit’s Negro League baseball team.
• Alex B. Hill, data expert, community researcher, and author of “Great Lakes in 50 Maps” and “Detroit in 50 Maps.” 
• Barbara Henning, author of eight books of poetry, and whose recent biography of her mother, “Ferne: A Detroit Story,” was a Library of Michigan Notable Book in 2023.

“‘Bookfest at the Main’ is going to be a great event,” said Ryan M. Place, the festival’s founder and chairman. “‘I’m delighted to announce so many great writers will be joining us for this exciting event two days before Bookfest at Eastern Market!”

A full schedule of panelists for “Bookfest at the Main” is available here. The newly announced panelists join five other authors who were already slated to speak at the Main Branch on July 18:

• Mark Crilley, Detroit native and author-illustrator, famous for “Miki Falls” and “Brody’s Ghost.” His works have been favorably compared to “Star Wars” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
• Freeway Ricky Ross, a former drug trafficker from Los Angeles, whose autobiography discusses the effects of the crack-cocaine epidemic on American cities.
• Curtis Chin, Detroit native, comedy writer, and documentary film producer, whose memoir discusses growing up Asian American in the Black and white city of Detroit and coming out in his working-class immigrant community. 
• The Astro Twins, Detroit natives and astrologers. Twins Tali Edut and Ophira Edut have written four books, are the featured astrology columnists for Elle magazine’s website, and are also advice columnists. 

Livestream coverage of Detroit Bookfest will be available on pbsbooks.org, across PBS Books social media platforms, and on the PBS Books YouTube channel—be sure to subscribe for updates and live access. “

About Bookfest

Bookfest, now in its eighth year, has set a goal of collecting 2,000 donated children’s books at the July 20 festival, in conjunction with Detroit-based nonprofit Birdie’s Bookmobile. Attendees with the means to do so are encouraged to bring new and gently used children’s books and drop them in one of four bright-color receptacles stationed around the festival.

About the Detroit Public Library

The Detroit Public Library (DPL) is the largest public library system in the state of Michigan. The Main Library and its neighborhood branches make it one of the most valuable and accessible public institutions in the state. On a daily basis, our libraries assist hundreds of Detroiters by providing computer and internet access, supporting residents who want to improve their literacy skills or who are seeking employment, and by offering quality fun and educational programs and activities for children, teens, adults and seniors.

About PBS Books

Started in 2014 by Detroit PBS, PBS Books is a trusted national brand and a multiplatform initiative connecting diverse audiences to books through PBS stations and programming, daily and original content, book fairs, conferences, live performances, screenings and other book-related events. The vision of PBS Books is to foster a community of people engaged in unique literary experiences that spark their curiosity, promote dialogue and inspire learning. PBS Books aims to provide context for complex issues — both national and local. In early 2019 with the support of the Knight Foundation and the Wyncote Foundation, PBS Books launched a free Library Engagement Program, which currently has more than 1,800 library partners. Today, PBS Books produces regular virtual content promoting critical dialogue about current topics and critical issues in communities across the U.S. To learn more, please visit: www.pbsbooks.org.

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