DECATUR, Ga. — The Decatur Book Festival returns to downtown Decatur Oct. 2-3, bringing together more than 80 national, regional and local authors for its 21st annual celebration of reading and storytelling. The festival kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, with a keynote session in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave. This year's keynote speaker is former Decatur resident Brian Goldstone, whose book "There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America" won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. Goldstone will discuss his work in a conversation with writer Brea Baker. The keynote session is free, though organizers encourage attendees to register in advance. The rest of the festival takes place Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with readings, conversations and book signings spread across venues throughout downtown Decatur, including the new Decatur Square Stage. All programming and events are free and open to the public. Festival organizers announced in February that Bailee Yarbrough had been named the festival's new executive director. Yarbrough said the festival serves readers of every kind and every age, adding that as the festival enters its third decade, organizers remain committed to books that "build strong communities." This year's authors span genres including literary fiction, romance, science fiction, poetry, horror, memoir and graphic novels, as well as picture books and chapter books for younger readers.…
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