Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor For its 25th anniversary, the Authors and Artists Fair is bringing 52 authors to Eugene for an autograph party, Saturday, Dec. 13. That’s a record number of literary lights for the annual fundraising event, and most of the authors will be bringing books published in 2025. Admission to the festival at the Lane Events Center is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but donations are accepted and a portion of book sales benefits the Lane Library League. The nonprofit group has been working for a quarter-century to improve and expand library service in rural areas. Lane County is one of the few counties in the nation that does not offer a countywide library card. The league uses profits from the book fair to support children’s programs and volunteer libraries in the county’s otherwise unserved areas. Of the authors debuting new books this year, here’s a closer look at five. Bob Welch’s column about his Yachats vacation house is the third-most-read article ever in Lookout Eugene-Springfield. How does he write so well? Welch tells all in his new book, “Writer: How to Craft Nonfiction Stories That Touch Your Readers’ Hearts, Souls & Funny Bones.” L.J. Sellers “murders” Eugene’s mayor in her latest novel, “Missing and/or Dead.” It’s the 18th in her series of Detective Jackson mysteries. When asked how she could kill a beloved local political figure, even in fiction, she replied coolly, “Everyone is fair game.” David Lewis is a member of the Grande Ronde Tribe who lives in Chemeketa, the city now known as Salem. He’s an assistant professor of anthropology and indigenous studies at Oregon State University. His book, “Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley,” chronicles Kalapuya stories about local history that pioneer historians often overlooked. Melissa Darby is a visiting research scholar at Portland State University. Her new history, “Thunder Go North: The Hunt for Sir Francis Drake’s Fair & Good Bay,” reveals that California historians have long covered up the truth — that the renowned British pirate’s 1579 landing was almost certainly not in California, but rather on the central Oregon Coast. Dawn Prochovnik of Portland has written 20 books for early readers, mostly about kindness. But her latest book answers the question children really want to ask: “How Does a Pirate Go Potty?” It follows up on her previous hit, “Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?” Melissa Darby Credit: Tammy Fraley David Lewis Bob Welch L.J. Sellers Here’s a complete list of the 52 authors and eight artists who will be at the fair: Debra Alexander: “Eliza Jane Finds Her Dog Squad” (2025), a novel about a girl with Tourette syndrome Valarie Anderson: “Between the Lines” (2025), a novel based on the true story of a Navajo code talker’s World War II romance Dan Armstrong: “Creatures from the Interzone” (2025), the fourth in a psy-fy/fantasy series set in Eugene A. Lynn Ash: “The Heat of the Fireman,” stories Joe Blakely: Oregon history, sports history, novels, and a memoir Tyler Burgess: Walking guidebooks and travel adventure narratives Vicki-Ann Bush: “Alex McKenna: Death Is Not the Beginning” (2025), the final book in a young adult paranormal detective series (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Melody Carlson: “Welcome to the Honey B&B” (2025) and more than 200 other novels Jennifer Chambers: “Murder and Mayhem in Eugene” (2025), and other nonfiction history Georgia Cockerham: “Murder at Ferry Creek,” book six in the Oregon Coast Murder Mystery series Alan Contreras: “Queens Ambit: Poems from the Gay Experience” (2025) Gregory Covert: Six thrillers in the “Hawkeye Ridge” series about a retired Navy commando (1:30 to 5 p.m.) Joan Gold Cypress: Children’s books John Daniel: Novels and poetry Melissa Darby: “Thunder Go North: The Hunt for Sir Francis Drake’s Fair & Good Bay” (2025), a nonfiction history Steve Davala: “The Soulkind Awakening,” the third in a series of fantasy novels Mireya DeYoung: Children’s books Carola Dunn: Cozy murder mysteries set in England (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Pat Edwards: Lane County history Mark Fearing: “Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine” and other illustrated children’s books Tim Fox: Four books in “The Afterlands Convergence” sci-fi series Miriam Gershow: “Closer” (2025), a novel about racial tensions in a small Oregon town (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Melissa Hart: “Down Syndrome Out Loud,” (2025), uplifting stories about people with disabilities (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Ann Herrick: “Boss of the Whole Sixth Grade” and other young adult novels A.B. Herron: “Wooden Wolves” (2025), a tangent novel to the Elemental Wolf series of urban fantasy romances Nina Kiriki Hoffman: Fantasy/sci-fi stories and a writing how-to guide (1:30 to 5 p.m.) Donna Hues: “Broken Spur” (2025), a young adult novel about orphans tracking their parents’ murderer in the early 1900s (1:30 to 5 p.m.) Paty Jager: Western romance and mystery, including “Wolf Moon” (2025) and a Christmas mystery, “Merry Merry Merry Murder” Leigh Anne Jasheway: “Chickenzie and the Bully” (2025), a young adult novel about a boy who rescues a chicken from a petting zoo (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Kristine Jensen: “Wednesday Club” (2025), a novel about a city girl dumped on a South Dakota farm Lauren Kessler: Nonfiction women’s biographies, history and memoir (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) Jason Kilgore: “First Nova I See Tonight” (2025) a sci-fi novel about star pirates, alien lovers, tentacled mafiosos, and smugglers David Lewis: “Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley” Howard Libes: “What You Will,” book three of the Seeder series of sci-fi novels Mary E. Lowd: “Animal Voices, Unicorn Whispers” and other “furry” sci-fi novels Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays: The Restaurantland series of romance novels set in Portland in the 1990s Donna McFarland: “I Lost My Kangaroo” (2025) and other children’s picture books Marli Miller: “Oregon Rocks!” and other nonfiction books about geology John Mitchell: Adventure novels and a memoir Sharleen Nelson: “The End of Time,” the final book in a series of time travel novels Paul Neville: “The Garbage Brothers,” a coming-of-age novel OSU Press: Over 100 books of Oregon interest Dawn Prochovnic: “Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?” and other children’s books Arlene Sachitano: 14 cozy murder mysteries with a quilting theme, set in the Pacific Northwest Frank Scalise: “A Hard Favored Death” (2025) and many other crime fiction thrillers L.J. Sellers: “Missing and/or Dead” (2025); Eugene’s mayor is murdered in the 18th book of the Detective Jackson mystery series Dorcas Smucker: “Coming Home to Roost” and other collections of her newspaper columns (1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.) William Sullivan: Hiking guidebooks and historical novels Micah Thorp “Aegolius Creek” (2025), an environmental novel set in Lane County (1:30 to 5 p.m.) Brian Trapp: “Range of Motion” (2025), a semi-autobiographical novel about growing up with a disabled brother David Wagner: “Oregon Nature Calendar 2026” and “A Lane County Almanac” Bob Welch: “Writer: How to Craft Nonfiction Stories That Touch Your Readers’ Hearts, Souls & Funny Bones” (2025) Linda Ziedrich: “The Curious Kitchen Gardener: Uncommon Plants and How to Eat Them” (2025) Eight artists will also be displaying their work: Kay Beckham: ornaments, cards, and prints. Michael Fromme: whimsical ceramic birds and animals. Dave Imus: maps and cartographic art. Rogene Manas: mixed media artwork, cards, and prints. Lynn Peterson: ceramic tree ornaments, tiled mosaics, art books, and tiny ceramic houses. Janell Sorensen: paintings, prints, watercolors, and cards. Valley Calligraphy Guild: calligraphy, note cards, gift tags, and quotations. Debbie Weber: art resin hangings and ornaments. Related Source: https://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/arts-culture/2025/12/10/eugene-book-festival-celebrates-25-years/