A Free Day of Books, Stories, and Discovery Comes to Downtown Napa |
The Napa Valley Book Festival brings more than 50 authors, talks, and family activities to Blue Oak School on November 14 |
A good book can take you somewhere unexpected. On November 14, you can meet some of the people who make those journeys possible, without leaving downtown Napa.
The second annual Napa Valley Book Festival will bring more than 50 authors to Blue Oak School for a free day of browsing, conversations, and activities. Presented by Napa Valley Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club, this year’s festival moves into a larger venue.
The story behind Sideways
Keynote speaker Rex Pickett knows a thing or two about persistence. His novel Sideways faced rejection from 15 publishers before becoming the basis for the Academy Award-winning film.
His talk will explore finding a distinctive voice and sticking with a manuscript through rejection. For anyone with a half-finished story tucked away, that may be reason enough to attend.
Outdoor writer Tom Stienstra will also speak, bringing stories from Heaven Delayed, his book about surviving extraordinary brushes with death.
A new reading companion for the kids
Younger visitors have their own invitation to get involved.
Children’s author Claudette Shatto is celebrating The Gratitude Rock with activities that include choosing a gently used stuffed animal to adopt, listening to stories, and painting a gratitude rock to take home. Readings of her book are planned in both English and Spanish, with the activities particularly suited to children ages four through eight.
For families, that offers an easy way to make books part of a shared outing. A new stuffed friend certainly doesn’t hurt.
Tom Stienstra is scheduled to speak at 11:15 a.m., followed by Rex Pickett at 1 p.m. An open mic wraps up the afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m.
Browse beyond your usual bookshelf
Author tables and independent bookstores will give visitors opportunities to explore between talks. Children’s storytime is also part of the festival, and food trucks and wine will be available for purchase.
Participating author Claire M. Johnson has confirmed she will have a table at the festival. For readers, meeting a writer offers a different way to choose a book: you can ask about the story before deciding whether to take it home.
You don’t need a manuscript in progress or a reading list organized by genre to enjoy the day. Come with a little curiosity and leave room for an unexpected discovery.
When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Blue Oak School,
Admission: Free; purchases are extra.
Check the festival’s schedule before your visit for any program updates. |
19 Comments
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November 14 is going on my calendar. I’ve never been to a local book festival, and the mix of talks, storytime, and browsing sounds like a good way to spend the day.
Diane F.It sounds like a nice first one to try. The storytime should make it a fun outing for families too.
My kids love painting rocks, so the gratitude activity will get them through the door. I may actually get to browse while they listen to a story.
Blue Oak School on Polk Street should be easy to get to, but parking around there can be tricky. I’d plan a little extra time.
Meeting authors at their tables is my favorite way to find a book. I always end up choosing something I never would have picked from a shelf.
I’ve read Tom Stienstra’s outdoor writing for years. Would be interesting to hear the stories behind Heaven Delayed in person.
An open mic at the end sounds fun. I might bring a poem I’ve been too nervous to read out loud anywhere.
Priya ShahYou should go for it. The open mic sounds like a friendly place to try reading it aloud.
Free admission is nice, though I’m guessing food and wine could add up if you make a whole day of it. Still, I’ll probably stop by.
Greg L.That’s true, food and wine are extra. I’m glad you can still enjoy the talks and browse for free.
I’m glad they moved it to a larger venue. Last year I wanted to browse more, but it got a little crowded around the tables.
Sandy M.Hopefully the extra space makes it easier to browse this year. Which tables were you hoping to check out?
Has anyone been to the festival before? Curious how much time you need to see the author tables and catch a couple of talks.
I like that the readings of The Gratitude Rock will be in both English and Spanish. That could make it a really welcoming activity for local families.
Fifteen publishers turned down Sideways? That’s a pretty good reminder that a rejection doesn’t mean a book has no chance.
The stuffed animal adoption and gratitude rock painting sound perfect for my four-year-old. Nice to have something for the kids while the grownups browse.
A free book festival in a bigger venue sounds great. I’m especially interested in hearing Tom Stienstra talk about surviving all those close calls.
Mike AlvarezSame here. His stories sound gripping, and I’m curious how he managed to get through those close calls.
I need to go to this. I have a half-finished story sitting in a drawer, and hearing Rex Pickett talk about all those rejections might be the push I need.