Lee County Library System will welcome more than two dozen authors to its 27th annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival on Saturday, March 7, 2026. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. readers of all ages can meet their favorite writers, hear behind-the-scenes stories and get books signed at this free, outdoor community event hosted at the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers.
Drawing thousands each year, the event features author presentations, book signings and interactive activities for all ages. Attendees also can enjoy library technology demonstrations, local author showcases, storytelling, arts and crafts, youth writing awards, festival merchandise and a variety of food vendors.
The festival, created to celebrate the power of reading and to promote literacy and library services, inspires readers of all ages by introducing them to nationally acclaimed best-selling authors.
“I have been a part of this festival since the very first event and I love how it continues to grow and change to reach our community in new ways,” Library Director Mindi Simon said.
This year’s lineup features Wally Lamb and Brad Thor along with other stellar authors including Sarah Pekkanen, Kristen Harmel and Lisa Wingate. Featured youth creators are Dan Gutman, creator of the “Rappy the Raptor” and “My Weird School”series plus husband-and-wife creators Trisha Speed Shaskan and Stephen Shaskan.
The full list of this year’s authors is available on the latest version of the festival’s mobile app “SWFL Read Fest” or the festival website, ReadFest.org. Fans of the festival can also visit the website to sign up for the festival’s monthly email newsletter.
An Evening with the Authors, the reading festival’s featured fundraiser, takes place Friday, March 6, and offers a one-of-a-kind chance to meet and mingle with the authors as part of an unforgettable dining experience at the Burroughs Home and Gardens. The evening also includes a silent auction with proceeds supporting the festival and giving guests the chance to snag interesting items and experiences like island getaways, theme park tickets and more. Tickets are available now at ReadFest.org.
The Southwest Florida Reading Festival proudly provides a free book to each child and teen in attendance as well. Funding for this program is made possible by a charitable gift of $10,000 from festival sponsor Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. Suncoast Credit Union founded the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to promote the education, health and emotional well-being of children in the community.
“Each time a Suncoast member uses their debit or credit card, the credit union donates four cents to fund local initiatives. Since 1990, the Foundation has raised and donated more than $55 million, and we cannot imagine a better use of funds than a festival that celebrates the joy and importance of reading,” said Jeff Kunberger, executive director of Foundations for Suncoast.
Festival Coordinator Melissa Baker said, “The library is grateful for the funding from Suncoast, which supports literacy in the community and helps to instill a love of reading among our youngest attendees.”
The Southwest Florida Reading Festival is free and community-supported through donations, sponsorships and grants. Individuals can support the Festival through the Adopt an Author fundraiser, which helps cover event costs and offers giving opportunities starting at just $25, each with a range of fun incentives, or they may simply make a secure online donation.
Funding for this program also is provided in part through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the Jacarlene Foundation.
To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters and follow on social media: www.leegov.com/socialmedia.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities. To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Ranice E. Monroe, ADA Coordinator, 239-533-0255, Florida Relay Service 711, or ADArequests@leegov.com. Accommodation will be provided at no cost to the requester. Requests should be made at least five business days in advance.
-30-
The complete author list and short biographies are below.
Adult Authors
Peter Abrahams, aka Spencer Quinn, is the award-winning author of 49 novels, including “The Right Side,” “The Fan” and the “Echo Falls” series for younger readers. As Spencer Quinn, he writes the New York Times bestselling “Chet and Bernie” and “Mrs. Plansky” series.
Bruce Borgos, the bestselling author of the“Porter Beck” mystery series, lives in Nevada with his wife, Pam and their golden retriever, Charlie Blue Horse. He writes mysteries, drinks wine (for research) and survives the wilds of publishing one book at a time.
Kalie Cassidy rites romantic fantasy for adults, including her debut “In the Veins of the Drowning” and her upcoming novel, “In the Wake of the Ruined.” Born and raised in Southern California, she worked in Los Angeles as a professional theater actor, coach and acting teacher.
Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction set in iconic New York City buildings, including “The Stolen Queen,” “The Magnolia Palace” and “The Lions of Fifth Avenue.” Her books have been translated into over 20 languages.
Rachel Gillig is the #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of “The Knight and the Moth” and “The Shepherd King” series. An artist and a retired preschool teacher, Rachel has a B.A. in Literary Theory and Criticism from UC Davis. When not dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is with her husband, son and their dignified poodle, Wally.
Kristin Harmel is The New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels including “The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau,” “The Room on Rue Amélie” and “The Sweetness of Forgetting.” Published in more than 30 languages, Kristin is the co-creator of the popular podcast, “Friends & Fiction.”
Patti Callahan Henry is an award-winning and bestselling author of historical and contemporary fiction, including “Surviving Savannah” and “Becoming Mrs. Lewis.” She is also one of the co-creators of the popular podcast, “Friends and Fiction.”
Alka Joshi is the internationally bestselling author of the “The Henna Artist,” “The Secret Keeper of Jaipur” and “The Perfumist of Paris.” Her debut novel, “The Henna Artist,” was a runaway hit that has been translated into 30 languages.
Wally Lamb is the author of The New York Times bestselling novels “The River Is Waiting,” “I Know This Much Is True” and “She’s Come Undone.” Lamb also edited two volumes of essays from students in his writing workshop at a women’s prison in Connecticut.
Ward Larsen is a “USA Today” bestselling author and a five-time winner of the Florida Book Award. A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Larsen also served as a federal law enforcement officer, airline captain and is a trained aircraft accident investigator. He co-wrote his latest thriller “Cold Zero” with Brad Thor.
Annabel Monaghan is The New York Times bestselling author of “It’s a Love Story,” “Summer Romance,” as well as two young adult novels. Her novels have been translated into 21 languages.
Sarah Pekkanen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author or co-author of 15 novels. Her books are sold in 36 countries, with several optioned for TV and film. Sarah serves on the board of directors of International Thriller Writers.
David Rosenfelt is an award–winning author of almost 30 Andy Carpenter novels, including “Dog Day Afternoon,” and several stand-alone thrillers plus nonfiction titles. He and his wife live in Maine with 25 of the four thousand dogs they have rescued.
Brad Thor is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 25 thrillers, including “Edge of Honor,” “Black Ice,” and “Blowback.” Brad studied creative writing, film and television production at the University of Southern California and was the award-winning creator, producer, writer and host of the critically acclaimed television series, “Traveling Lite.”
Lisa Wingate is the author of the #1 New York Times best-seller “Before We Were Yours,” which has sold more than 3 million copies and been translated into over 40 languages. Co-author of the award-winning nonfiction book “Before and After,” Wingate lives in Texas and Colorado.
Adrienne Young is the writer of numerous fantasy novels for adults and young adults, including “Fable,” “Namesake,” and her recent release “Fallen City.” She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee.
Kids Authors
Dan Gutman has written 200 books including “Rappy the Raptor” for beginning readers, the “My Weird School” series for young readers and “The Picasso Curse” for advanced readers. Dan lives in New York City.
Kay Healy is the author of the graphic novel for kids “Casey’s Cases.” When not making books, Healy draws, screen prints and sews fabric soft sculptures in her studio. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, two daughters, two cats and one dog.
Sylvia Liu grew up with books and daydreams in Caracas, Venezuela. Her books include “Stealing the Score,” “Near and Deer” and “Manatee’s Best Friend.” A former environmental attorney, Sylvia lives in Virginia with her family and a fluffy cat.
Greg Pizzoli is the three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning creator of the “Baloney and Friends” graphic novel series, as well as the author and illustrator of the picture books “The Watermelon Seed,” “Good Night Owl” and “The Book Hog.”
Stephen Shaskan is an author and illustrator of picture books including “Toad on the Road,” “A Dog Is a Dog” and the best-selling graphic series “Pizza and Taco.” He also collaborates with his wife Trisha Speed Shaskan. The Shaskans live in Minneapolis, love visiting schools and libraries and inspiring young authors and illustrators.
Trisha Speed Shaskan has written 50 books for children, including the picture book “The Itty-Bitty Witch,” illustrated by Xindi Yan. Trisha enjoys reading her stories and sharing her passion for literature and writing with children.
Teen Authors
Marc J. Gregson is the New York Times bestselling author of the “Above the Black” trilogy. His work has been released in several languages across multiple continents and his trilogy starter, “Sky’s End,” is in development as a major motion picture.
Xan Kaur is a Punjabi-American author who grew up in rural Georgia. Her debut novel is “When Devils Sing,” an instant New York Times and national Indie best-seller. When not writing, you can find her behind a camera or swimming in the nearest ocean.
Susan Lee is the bestselling author of both young adult and adult romantic comedies, including “Soulmates,” “The Romance Rivalry,” and her recent release “Julia Song is Undateable.” Her work has been featured in Buzzfeed, NPR and People magazine. When not writing, her many obsessions include K-pop, K-dramas, collecting sneakers and her chihuahua, Buttercup.
Sasha Peyton Smith is The New York Times bestselling author of “The Witch Haven” and “The Rose Bargain.” Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives in a 100-year-old house in Utah with her husband and (allegedly) two ghosts.
