BOOK BONANZA
SterlingFest book signing to feature more than 70 local authors
After a two-year leave of absence, the city of Sterling Heights SterlingFest Art and Music festival is back at Dodge Park for a weekend of family fun and entertainment.
Among the carnival-like atmosphere with music, food, rides and art don’t write-off the Sterling Heights Public Library across the street, next to the police station. They will be hosting a one-dayonly book signing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 30, featuring 70 local authors and writers groups.
Children’s book author and Sterling Heights resident Terry Hojnacki started serving as the festival’s book signing event coordinator in 2016.
She primarily volunteers as the library’s Creative Writer Workshop facilitator, is on the board of directors for Detroit Working Writers and belongs to the Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators.
As an active member of metro Detroit’s writing community, Hojnacki sees and understands the importance of helping local authors get in front of a wide audience to display and talk about their books.
“This is an opportunity for authors to meet the public,” she said. “When we started this, the idea was to have a library program to bring new authors to the readers.”
Over the years the SterlingFest book signing has grown in popularity and has reached capacity with 45 tables and 70 authors — a 10-author increase from 2019.
With so many active creative writing and critique groups in metro Detroit, once word is out about a book signing, space fills up quickly.
Hojanacki opened registration for authors and writers groups at 9:30 a.m. on May 9, by noon she reached capacity and sold out.
Michael Dwyer, director and owner of Rochester Writers group confirmed five authors — one from Rochester, three from Rochester Hills and one from Lake Orion — with two tables set up.
Dwyer hopes to give current authors the opportunity to meet readers as well as welcome new authors to their critique group.
“We try to find people with new books or are actively marketing to get them to book signings and appearances,” he said. “This is a wonderful event for authors to sell books and meet potential readers. This one-day event at the Sterling Heights library has done a great job getting a lot of good groups and giving authors exposure.”
Rochester resident and children’s book author Joan Wilson started writing and illustrating after retiring as a commercial and industrial artist. Being part of Rochester Writers gave her confidence and a reference point to publish five children’s books. Wilson’s most recent chapter book ‘Sir Scrap Metal’ published in July 2021.
This will be Wilson’s third year participating in SterlingFest’s book signing. Her enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with readers keeps her coming back each year.
“The event is out in the open and it’s a great meet and great environment,” she said.
In addition to individuals, participating groups includes Authors Guild of America, the Detroit Working Writers, Greater Detroit Romance Writers, Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers, Motown Writers, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Creative Writers Group Worship of Sterling Heights, Rochester Writers, Shelby Writers Group and more.