Schedule of Events

Plus overview and maps of all TCBF areas!

This Schedule of Events is organized by location within Union Depot. The TCBF happens on two levels: On Level 1 are three main areas: the Concourse, the Waiting Room, and the Head House. Level 2 contains three rooms: Red Cap Room, Veterans Gallery, and Riverview Room. See below for what’s taking place where; click the arrows to open more detailed descriptions!

CONCOURSE

Time

Event

10am–5pm

TCBF Info Booth

10am–5pm

TCBF Raffle and Giveaways: Enter for a chance to win prizes—books, tees, hats, totes, and more!

10am–5pm

Coffee Station: You can grab a quick beverage or grab-and-go treat here! There are also multiple vending machines throughout Union Depot, and a cafe in the Head House.

10am –4pm

Break Area: When you need a minute between catching author events or browsing the book fair, you can grab a seat, play life-sized games, or gaze at the Lite-Brite Mural by renowned St. Paul artist Ta-coumba Aiken.

WAITING ROOM

Time

Event

10am–5pm

TCBF Book Fair

The TCBF’s amazing book fair, featuring 140 exhibitors as well as Rain Taxi’s annual used book and record sale, goes from 10 am to 5 pm. Make sure to roam the aisles in between great author sessions, or vice versa!
See a list of Exhibitors here!

Rain Taxi (located in the Book Fair)

HEAD HOUSE

The Head House contains two TCBF areas: the Activity Hub (with crafts, workshops, scavenger hunt base, and fun drop-in activities for all ages) and the Children's Corner (with author events all morning)—see descriptions below. Also in the Head House are a cafe/restaurant and a community seating area.

Children's Corner

Books will be available for purchase at the nearby TCBF Bookseller Station, and authors are happy to sign them!

Time

Event

10-10:30am

Kick off a picture perfect TCBF day with authors Beth and Kathleen Rooney and illustrator Betsy Bowen as they share their new picture book Leaf Town Forever! After hearing their story about a place they love so much they want to share it with friends and help it last forever, families can write and draw about the places they love and want to last forever on special Leaf Town postcards they can mail or give to friends and loved ones. (Ages 3 and up)
Full event details

10:30-11am

11am –12pm

12-12:30pm

These picture books, geared for slightly older readers, tell true stories about real people. Revolutions Are Made of Love illustrates how activists James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs fought for fair housing, labor unions, jobs, food, urban gardens, and more to make the world a better place for all. Returning the Sword tells the story of Captain Orval Amdahl, who brought home a Japanese sword as a war souvenir in 1945—and returned it sixty-eight years later. Stop by to hear authors Mélina Mangal and Caren Stelson read from and discuss these amazing true stories! (Ages 5+)
Full event details

Activity Hub

Books will be available for purchase at the nearby TCBF Bookseller Station, and authors are happy to sign them!

Time

Event

10am–4pm

In celebration of her new graphic novel Botticelli's Apprentice, cartoonist Ursula Murray Husted invites all Book Festival attendees to drop by her makeshift studio and add your marks to the collaborative mural she’s orchestrating to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rain Taxi’s TCBF. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and Ursula is also happy to chat about making art, art history, or pretty much anything art related that’s on your mind. Honor the apprentice in yourself and take a moment to make art! (All ages)
Full event details

10am –4pm

Ever wanted to play spy? Take the Codebreaker Challenge at this year's TCBF! Come anytime throughout the day to meet the authors behind the new YA thriller Codebreaker and get debriefed on your mission: Solve their series of codes and ciphers hidden at various locations throughout the Book Festival for your chance to win some wonderful prizes and enviable bragging rights. All you need to compete is a copy of the book—we’ll have copies available for you to purchase or borrow. As you make your way through this 15-minute scavenger hunt, you’ll interact with other booklovers and learn the hidden history of some of the most famous codes and ciphers of all time.
Full event details

12–1pm

Join Duluth-based author-illustrator-cartoonist Chris Monroe for some quick crafts with string to celebrate her wonderfully wordless new book String Ball—which depicts the entertaining things that can happen when a solitary cat meets a child’s art project. Don’t be surprised, however, if the fan-favorite creator of the Monkey with a Tool Belt series has monkey madness as well as cat curiosity in mind for you to capture in craft. All materials (including googly eyes) will be provided! (All ages)
Full event details

1–2pm

According to one of the poems in Matt Eicheldinger's new book Holes in My Underwear, “you have always been you”—now come see what you look like as Matt draws your portrait in his inimitable cartoon style! While you’re there take a peek at this thought-tickling book, because it’s packed with over 100 poems (from an ode to a burrito to a haiku about papercuts) and doodle art by the bestselling author of the Matt Sprouts series and other books. (All ages)
Full event details

1–2pm

The medium of comics continues to expand into every literary niche, from autobio to whodunnit. Have you wondered whether the graphic novel might be the right vehicle for your writing? In this casual drop-in workshop, award-winning cartoonist Andy Hartzell will offer hands-on exercises for turning prose into pictures. You’ll learn about the basics of page layout, interplay of word and image, collaborating with an artist, and more. No drawing expertise is required, but participants are encouraged to bring a short sample of their writing to work from. (Ages 14+)
Full event details

2-3pm

Are you interested in drawing, manga, or Japanese culture? Join graphic novelist Misako Rocks! for a super interactive manga drawing workshop based on her How to Draw Kawaii Manga activity book series! You’ll learn how Misako creates her fashion-forward manga step by step, and she’ll help you draw an original manga or anime character based on some of her own starting points. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to tap into your creativity! Please bring along your own sketchbook/drawing paper or drawing tablet (you can draw by hand or digitally—it’s totally up to you!); we’ll have pencils and erasers on hand for those who need to borrow them. (Ages 8+)
Full event details

2-5pm

3-4pm

Drop in and dish with one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved foodies! In celebration of the release of her True North Cabin Cookbook Volume 2: Seasonal Recipes from a Cozy Kitchen, Stephanie Hansen will be hosting a recipe swap focused on holiday meals. What are some of your guaranteed crowd-pleasers, ambitious dishes, or emergency hacks? Bring along a recipe card, or however you keep track of your cooking accomplishments! Stephanie will also be revealing some tasty tips gleaned from winter days at her family cabin that you’re sure to use as the holiday season sweeps in.
Full event details

RED CAP ROOM

Located on the second floor, accessible via Elevators 4 and 6. Books will be available for purchase at the TCBF Bookseller tables nearby and author signings take place following their presentations.

★ Starred events are ASL interpreted!

Time

Event

10am

Mega-bestselling author Eoin Colfer—author of the Artemis Fowl series and dozens of other acclaimed books for readers of all ages—is coming to the Twin Cities directly from Ireland to present Firefox Moon, the latest in his Juniper Lane series! This special keynote event kicks off the 25^th Annual Twin Cities Book Festival in style, celebrating the power of story with one of the world’s great storytellers. Don’t miss it!
Full event details

11am

The Poetic Genius of Taylor Swift
Why do so many people love Taylor Swift? How did she become the songwriter she is, and how has she kept her songwriting so fascinating through all her eras? What to say to her detractors? What’s up with all the Gaylors? And what do we think about Swift’s latest chart-topping release, The Life of a Showgirl? Renowned poet and critic Stephanie Burt will answer these questions and more, drawing on her new book Taylor’s Version—itself drawn from the author’s Harvard University course on Swift that garnered massive media attention for daring to study the pop star’s work alongside classic English literature.
Full event details

12pm

Memoirs of Leadership
Moderated by Jennifer Amie
How do two kids from Minnesota end up in key leadership positions of public service in their home state? For Medaria Arradondo, it meant staying rooted in his hometown of Minneapolis, where he rose to become “Chief Rondo” at a time of unprecedented crisis; for Steve Grove, the journey was one of reinvention, winding through key roles in technology, government, and journalism. Join these now-grown Minnesota kids as they talk about their leadership paths, belief in local community, and hope for the future with magazine writer and Chief Rondo co-author Jennifer Amie, who returns to her native Twin Cities for this special TCBF conversation.
Full event details

1pm

From Myth to Reality and Beyond
Don’t miss this panel featuring three amazing creators of middle grade graphic novels, each of whom takes a unique approach to some of their core passions. Bestselling cartoonist George O’Connor has introduced hordes of readers to some of the original superheroes of Greek mythology in his 12-volume Olympians; he’ll be talking about his new Asgardians series and Loki, the third volume in the series (after Odin and Thor, of course!). Minnesota’s own Tyler Page brings things back to reality with his new graphic memoir Extra Large, which tells the story of discovering the difference between building a body that conforms to society’s expectations and one that actually feels good to live in. And anything can happen in manga, so Japanese artist and educator Misako Rocks! joins us to discuss the latest in her Bounce Back series, Sew Totally Nala!, about a kawaii fashion-loving kid who teams up with a very clever squirrel to rise to the challenge of being brave. Whether you’re a young reader, an avid comics follower, or a parent, teacher, or librarian, you’ll want to catch this trio!
Full event details

2pm

In YA, The Power is Within
When faced with particular and dire challenges, the three protagonists of these new YA novels search deep inside themselves for the inner strength, creativity, and love to prevail. In King of the Neuro Verse, Idris Goodwin presents a powerful story (in verse!) about a Black teen with ADHD who finds self-expression and first love during an epic summer school season. Sunlight Playing Over a Mountain, Selina Li Bi’s debut novel, combines lyrical prose, Chinese mythology, and tropes of fantasy to explore the sobering narrative of an imperfect mother-daughter relationship. And in On the Wings of La Noche, Vanessa L. Torres offers a spellbinding tale of a lonely science girl who at night becomes a Lechuza, a shape-shifting witch-owl of Mexican lore tasked with guiding the dead to the hereafter. Don’t miss this riveting talk on finding the power within!

Full event details

3pm

The Novel of Family
Whether formed by blood, choice, or circumstance, the bonds that join families and the tensions that can tug them apart are among the great subjects of the literary novel. Renowned bestselling author Jane Hamilton visits the Twin Cities to present her new coming-of-age novel about girls, mothers, and finding one's way in the world, The Phoebe Variations—and she’ll be joined by Minnesota authors Anika Fajardo (The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore) and Erin O. White (Like Family), whose new books explore themes of maternal ancestry, female friendship, and the tangled tapestry of family. Don’t miss this summit on the art of family fiction at its finest!
Full event details

VETERANS GALLERY

Located on the second floor, accessible via Elevators 4 and 6. Books will be available for purchase at the TCBF Bookseller tables nearby and author signings take place following their presentations.

★ Starred events are ASL interpreted!

Time

Event

10:30am

It’s here at last—the first literary biography of landmark Minnesota writer Tim O’Brien. Written by Alex Vernon, a lauded war literature scholar who has himself served in combat, Peace Is a Shy Thing covers O’Brien’s experience during the war in Viet Nam and his award-winning writing in equal measure; an enthralling read with a wealth of information, the book illustrates why O’Brien should not be considered a “war writer” but simply one of the best literary artists of his generation. Join us as Vernon discusses Peace Is a Shy Thing with Steve Marsh, senior writer at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
Full event details

11:30am

From Comfort to Bite
Romance readers and romcom fans, save the date! In Love Walked In, an opposites-attract story for book lovers by London-based author Sarah Chamberlain, a sunshiny American bookstore whisperer clashes with the grumpy British owner of the shop she’s trying to save. In Undead and Unwed, the bitingly funny new novel by the Twin Cities’ own Sam Tschida, a vampire finds herself—and maybe love—during the Christmas season. Join us as these writers discuss the wide range of tones and pleasures in contemporary genre fiction.
Full event details

12:30pm

The Graphic Novel of Hope

In these two engaging and hopeful graphic novels by award-winning creators, young girls try to make things right by searching for the answer to their dreams—but it’s friendship and family that save the day. Dream On, the first in a new graphic novel series by mega-bestselling author Shannon Hale, offers a heartfelt take on meeting life’s hardships and big emotions with compassion. Angelica and the Bear Prince, the highly anticipated second book from Minnesota cartoonist Trung Le Nguyen, follows a high school girl who has had some very low moments, but who’s starting to put her life back together thanks to friends and a surprising romance. Join us as these creative powerhouses discuss how they use the graphic novel medium to tackle tough issues for youth.

Full event details.

1:30pm

The Global Short Story
Let’s talk about the short story with two acclaimed novelists from different continents who have new story collections! Coming to the Twin Cities from Australia, Norwegian writer and performance artist Edy Poppy offers a fractured vision of sexuality and alienation in her new collection Coming. Apart., which continues exploring the stark, poetic voice that made her debut novel Anatomy. Monotony. a cult sensation in Europe. She’ll be joined by Minnesota’s own Curtis Sittenfeld, whose sharp wit has dissected the American brand of alienation since her first novel Prep (and in many other bestselling books since), and who peels back layer after layer of our inner lives in Show Don’t Tell, her second collection of stories.
Full event details

2:30pm

Finding Family in Speculative Fiction
Two lauded masters in their respective fiction genres have just published “debut novels” of a sort: William Alexander, the National Book Award–winning writer of children’s books, presents his first science fiction novel for adults, a cozy space opera set in the far future called Sunward. Amber Sparks, renowned for her mastery of the weird short story over four previous books, presents her long-awaited first novel, the darkly funny gothic tale Happy People Don’t Live Here. Be ready for mind-bending thoughts as these genre-bending authors take the TCBF stage together!
Full event details

3:30pm

Prizewinning Poetry of Resilience
Love: it’s famously complicated, but fortunately that’s part of the purview of contemporary poetry. Join us as Keetje Kuipers (Lonely Women Make Good Lovers) and Sarah Green (The Deletions) read from their prizewinning new collections. From staying in a marriage to reckoning with divorce, from mothering to daughtering, from Googling exes to being agog at Tinder bios, and always with one eye on the struggling climate that surrounds all bodies, these poems discover and reveal the ways we come to know ourselves.
Full event details

RIVERVIEW ROOM

Located on the second floor, accessible via Elevators 4 and 6. Books will be available for purchase at the TCBF Bookseller tables nearby and author signings take place following their presentations.

Minnesota Author Showcase

This fun, fast-paced series of showcases offers quick tastes of dozens of great new books by local authors. Grouped by genre or theme, these 20-minute dips (or in one case, a 45-minute swim!) allow readers to revisit favorite writers or discover new voices.

Time

Event

10:30am

11:00am

11:30am

12:00pm

1:00pm

1:30pm

2:00pm

2:30pm

3:00pm

3:30pm

Hours & Location

Saturday, November, 8

10am - 5pm

Union Depot, Saint Paul
Getting there