Media Contact:
The Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce
Attn Hal Williams, Manager
Email: Info@Dahlonega.org Phone: 706-864-3711

Dahlonega, GA/February 2006 - The Dahlonega Literary Festival began three years ago as the brainchild of Kate Quigley McElliott. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate literature of all kinds. The festival has celebrated tie-ins with Gone With the Wind, Valentine’s Day, and Black History Month as dozens of writers, poets, singer-songwriters, actors, musicians, and readers have gathered together to enjoy the pleasures of the written word.

The third annual Dahlonega Literary Festival will take place on President’s Day Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, February 18 and 19, 2006.

This year, the festival welcomes international bestselling author Susan Vreeland, whose works have been translated into dozens of languages and made into movies for Hallmark’s Gold Edition Hall of Fame. Susan will present workshops, readings, and make herself available to autograph books throughout the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, she will present a talk on her first novel, Girl in Hyacinth Blue , followed by a screening of the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of her book.

The festival will have readings for children and adults alike. It is a wonderful place to come and bring the whole family. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be there, as will the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland , and special events are planned throughout the weekend for young readers.

There will be seminars for budding writers as well. Come learn how to write that novel and get it sold. Find out how to contact agents and write query letters. Rub elbows with successful writers and learn their secrets for success.

But most of all, come and enjoy literature.

The Dahlonega Literary Festival is proud to have several national and international award-winning authors this year. Amy Blackmarr, last year’s Georgia Author of the Year (nonfiction), will be here, as will Fran Stewart, last year’s Georgia Author of the Year (independently published fiction). Come meet author Brian Jay Corrigan, the international novelist whose debut novel won many awards and ended 2005 at #27 on the Amazon.com list of best books.

Come rain or shine. The festival takes place indoors around the historic, nineteenth-century town square (Dahlonega is the site of America’s first gold rush!) The festival is pleased to present Gold!a play of the California gold rush that has received numerous awards in California.

It is going to be a fun-filled, instructive, and entertaining weekend. Many events are free. Seminars and ticketed events may be purchased individually or through a day pass. For more information, visit our website at www.literaryfestival.org

Professor, Renaissance Literature
Georgia Board of Regent's Award for Teaching Excellence
General Editor, The Compendium of Renaissance Drama