Middle Ground Book Fest

This FREE virtual event will blend together authors, educators, librarians, and book lovers in a fun and safe space where we can learn from one another and find new ways to inspire the 8-14 year old reader. The goal: create lifelong readers! This is a trying time for everyone and books are more important than ever. Let's give Middle Grade some love, with an emphasis on diversity! The festival will consist of panels featuring middle grade authors, as well as teachers and librarians. There will also be pre-taped mini-lessons that educators and librarians will be able to use once the school year begins.​ 

Click here for Saturday Panels & Books | Click here for Sunday Panels & Books

Festival Organizers

Shannon Doleski was born and raised in Cazenovia, New York. After graduating from Niagara University with an English Education degree, Shannon was an English teacher and swim coach in New York and Maryland. She lives with her husband, three children, and beagle wherever the Air Force sends them (currently West Texas). Visit her author website at shannondoleski.com. Mary Underwater is her debut novel.

Janae Marks graduated from the New School with an MFA in writing for children. When she isn’t writing fiction, she’s spending time with her husband and daughter at home in Connecticut. From the Desk of Zoe Washington is her debut novel. Visit Janae online at www.janaemarks.com.

Tanya Guerrero is Filipino and Spanish by birth, but has been fortunate enough to call three countries home—the Philippines, Spain, and the United States. Currently, she lives in a shipping container home in the suburbs of Manila with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of rescued cats and dogs. In her free time, she grows her own food, bakes bread, and reads. How to Make Friends with the Sea is her debut novel.

Lorien Lawrence is a writer and middle-school English teacher. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found hunting ghosts with her family. She currently resides in Connecticut. The Stitchers is her debut novel.

In addition, the complete book list for all participating authors is below,

listed in order of panel times.