51st Annual Local Author Showcase
51st Annual Local Author Showcase
The 51st Annual Local Author Showcase for books published by San Diego County writers in 2016 is now on display (February 1-28) in the Popular Library of the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common.
Special Kickoff & Showcase Opening with Authors
Saturday, January 28th, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Popular Library, San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common
The Little Local Authors Showcase will open on Saturday, March 4th with a special program honoring authors ages 11 and under, and continue throughout the month. Teen Local Authors, for young adults ages 12 to 18, will remain on display throughout both February and March 2017.
The Online Gallery, the online component of the Showcase, will continue throughout 2017.
About the Program
The Local Author Program highlights the intellectual and creative accomplishments of writers in the San Diego region. A centerpiece of the Local Author Program is the annual Local Author Showcase. In its 51st 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 mid-September alerting all San Diego county authors who published books in the current year to submit them. The annual deadline for submitting books is in mid-November.
The Showcase runs throughout the entire month of February in the lobby of the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common. Qualified participants will be invited to a special Local Author event to kick off the showcase. Submitted publications are also exhibited in an Online Gallery that lasts throughout the year and features author information, book cover images, and title and publishing information.
In 2015, the Library inaugurated a special Little Local Authors exhibit for writers ages 11 and under, conceived in order to accommodate the increasing number of young authors who enter the Local Author Showcase every year. Little Local Authors takes place in March following the adult exhibit in February. In 2016, Teen Local Authors will be highlighted and featured as well for teen writers between 12 and 18 years of age.
The San Diego Public Library has long hosted special events for authors including book discussions, writing workshops and author talks, where writers are able to interact directly with their readers as they share, sell and sign their books. The Local Author Showcase is presented for reading interest as well as the opportunity to highlight the diverse and abundant talent we have locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Local Author Showcase?
It is an annual 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. The Showcase will be on display in the Dickinson Popular Library of the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common for the entire month of February.
What is the Little Local Authors?
Little Local Authors began during the Golden Anniversary of the Local Author Showcase in 2015 in order to accommodate the increasing number of children authors who enter the Local Author Showcase every year. It takes place in March following the adult Showcase in February. Children authors may enter zines, chapbooks, and other unbound booklets.
What is Teen Local Authors?
Teen Local Authors features writers between the ages of 12 and 18 who enter and submit a book in the Local Author Showcase. Teen authors may enter zines, chapbooks, and other unbound booklets.
What is the Online Gallery?
The Online Gallery showcases authors and their information throughout the year including books, photos, publishers and bios. It opens at the same time as the live Showcase in February, and closes in December.
Can I submit an ebook?
eBooks are accepted as long as they were published in the current year. For display purposes, please upload an image of the cover of your book on the online registration form. Your submission is complete. You don’t need to do anything else.
What happens to the books submitted for the Showcase?
All items submitted to the San Diego Public Library for the Local Author Showcase are unconditional gifts which will not be returned. Gift materials may be added to the collection in compliance with the Library's collection guidelines. eBooks cannot be added unless they are available through the library’s digital format vendor.
For more information about the Local Author Program contact us at [email protected]. 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.
