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Local Author Showcase
58th Annual Local Author Showcase:
January 2024
Register here for the 2024 Local Author Showcase
Deadline is Sunday, November 19, 2023
The 57th Annual Local Author Showcase
About the Program
The Local Author Program highlights the intellectual and creative accomplishments of writers in the San Diego region and is presented for reading interest as well as the opportunity to highlight the diverse and abundant talent we have locally. A centerpiece of the Local Author Program is the Local Author Showcase. The Showcase includes books and ebooks written by adults, teens and children. In its 58th year, the aim of the Showcase is to bring exposure to local talent and nurture the pursuit of the writing arts in San Diego.
A call for submissions goes out in September inviting San Diego County authors who published books in the current year to register for the program and submit their book. The annual deadline for submitting books is typically in late November.
Qualified books are displayed in the Dickinson Popular Library at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. The Showcase runs throughout the entire month of February. Participants are invited to attend a special preview of the Showcase prior to the public unveiling. Submitted publications are also showcased in an 
Online Exhibit that lasts throughout the year and features author information, book cover images, title and publishing information. In March, the books become available for public check-out for one year.
Online Exhibit that lasts throughout the year and features author information, book cover images, title and publishing information. In March, the books become available for public check-out for one year. The San Diego Public Library has long hosted special events for authors including book discussions, writing workshops, author talks and conferences. In addition to the Author of the Month series sponsored by the Friends of Central Library, the annual Short Story Contest, and the Lit Café which takes place at the San Diego Pride Festival, have been well received and widely attended.
Over the past couple of years, the library has continued to feature innovative programs for local authors to share their craft with the community. Since 2021, the library has partnered with San Diego Poetry Annual to produce Conversations with Poets and Poetry in Ocean, another well received and very San Diego event which merges the city’s vibrant poetry and spoken word scene with the region’s world renowned surf culture!
San Diego Public Library is grateful to the Friends of the San Diego Central Library for their generous support and sponsorship of the Local Author Showcase. Please check the library’s event calendar often for upcoming author related programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Local Author Showcase?
It is an annual event and key component of the Local Author Program open to present San Diego County residents who published a book in the current year. Qualified participants must currently reside within zip codes 91901 - 92199.
When and where is the Showcase held?
The Showcase will be on display in the Dickinson Popular Library of the San Diego Central Library for the entire month of February 2024.
How many books am I allowed to submit? How many copies do you need?
Please submit only one (1) book per author. We accept only one copy.
May chapbooks, pamphlets and individual chapters by local authors be submitted?
Except for poetry chapbooks, only books with proper bookbinding and format may be submitted. No pamphlets, brochures or stapled material can be accepted (Teens excluded).
What if I just heard about the Program this year or my book was published before 2023?
We’ll accept books published the year before (in 2022) that did not participate the previous year. Books published before 2022 do not qualify.
The Online Showcase features authors and their information throughout the year including book covers, publishers, and bios. It usually opens at the same time as the live exhibit in February and closes in February of the following year.
eBooks are accepted for display purposes only. To participate authors must upload an image of the book’s cover through the online registration form. Afterwards, your submission is complete. You don’t need to do anything else.
My book is in both print and eBook format. Which do you prefer?
Please register and submit only the print edition.
What is the deadline to enter the Local Author Showcase?
Registration must be completed, and books received by Sunday, November 19, 2023.
Can self-published materials be submitted?
Yes. The Local Author Program reflects the diversity of the publishing world.
What happens to the books submitted for the Showcase?
Books in the Showcase circulate for one year (3/24 – 3/25). Afterwards qualified books may be added to the collection in compliance with SDPL's Collection Development Policy, including whether or not there exists professional reviews of the books. eBooks cannot be added now unless they are available through the library’s digital format vendor.
Yes. After the Showcase ends in February, books will be shelved alphabetically by author last names in the Local Author Collection located in the Dickenson Popular Library on the first floor. Books won’t be searchable in the library catalog, but author and book title can be found in the Online Exhibit.
What happens to the books not included in the collection?
During the registration process, authors can choose whether they want their books returned to them or donated to the Friends of the Library where it may be sold to benefit the library.
Can I have a book signing event?
Yes. Authors are encouraged to host their own book talks and signings. Most of the 36 library branch locations have spacious community rooms that authors may reserve free of charge. Please see SDPL’S meeting room policies for more information.
Contact Us
For more information about the Local Author Program contact us at localauthor@sandiego.gov. For other events at the San Diego Public Library's Central Library and 35 branches, or to search for materials in the Library's catalog or to find links to numerous additional resources, please visit www.SanDiegoLibrary.org or call the San Diego Public Library at (619) 236-5800.