KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
KENNEDY RYAN
SCORE
S. A. COSBY
KING OF ASHES
MAIYA THE DON
TIFFANY D. JACKSON
THE SCAMMER
MEET THE AUTHORS
ALI TERESE
VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T
ISABEL J. KIM
SUBLIMATION
BENEDICT NGUYEN
HOT GIRLS WITH BALLS
JANELLE HARPER
SALON SATURDAY
FREDERICK JOSEPH
PLANTING HOPE
DAVID BARCLAY MOORE
NIGHT FLIGHT
JOHN PARRA
THIS MOMENT IS SPECIAL
ANDREA HAIRSTON
THE REDEMPTION CENTER IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
VINCENT TIRADO
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN NICER TO MY MOM
TAMELA J GORDON
HOOD WELLNESS
JAYLENE CLARK OWENS
A BLACK GIRL AND HER BRAIDS
JESSICA LOVE
JULIAN IS A MERMAID
ALEJANDRO HEREDIA
LOCA
NICOLE GLOVER
THE STARSEEKERS
CAMONGHNE FELIX
LET THE POETS GOVERN
ALEXANDRA VILLASANTE
FIREBLOOMS
NATASHA BISHOP
THE ART OF LOVING YOU
MARLEY DIAS
I AM THE DREAM COME TRUE
SHAUNA J. GRANT
BABY-SISTTERS- LITTLE SISTER
CLEYVIS NATERA
THE GRAND PALOMA RESORT
CLARENCE A. HAYNES
THE BROKEN HEARTS AGENCY
ASHLEY JORDAN
ONCE UPON A TIME IN DOLLYWOOD
SARAH AZIZA
THE HOLLOW HALF
ANGEL LUIS COLÓN
MINECRAFT HOUSE OF HORRORS
JESSICA DIAZ
OYEMÉ
CHRISTINE PRIDE
ALL THE MEN I’VE LOVED AGAIN
ASHLEY WOODFOLK
QUEERLEADERS
NAFISSA THOMPSON-SPIRES
THE FOUR WIVES AND FIVE DEATHS OF RICHARD MILFORD
LISA E. DAVIS
OUR MINDS WERE ALWAYS FREE
ALYSSA REYNOSO-MORRIS
THE BRONX IS MY HOME
KANIKA MOBLEY
STORIES OF A COLORFUL WORLD
MORGAN MENZIES
CURATOR OF @PRETTYLITTLEBOOKSHELF
JORDAN HERNANDEZ
CURATOR OF @_COMPLETELYBOOKED
KEVIN BLAIZE
DOGS OF THE WILD “THE RISE OF A KING”
SPONSORS
2026 BRONX BOOK FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
HOSTED BY THE BRONX IS READING
The Andrew Freedman Home
1125 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10452
UPTOWN STAGE | PROGRAMMING (Subject to change without warning)
Sponsored by Simon & Schuster
9:00 AM-5:00 PM
CHECK-IN
Doors open at 8:30 AM. Attendees will need to line up for entry, have tickets either printed or available on your digital handheld device. Note that The Bronx is Reading staffers will be checking IDs. We reserve the right to turn anyone away who doesn’t have a ticket. Reminder that everyone must have a ticket, persons 0-17 are FREE.
10:00 AM-10:40 AM
OFF THE RECORD: WHAT NOBODY TELLS YOU ABOUT WRITING A NOVEL
Join bestselling and critically acclaimed authors Benedict Nguyen (Hot Girls with Balls), Cleyvis Natera (The Grand Paloma Resort), Clarence A. Haynes (The Broken Hearts Agency), Nafissa Thompson Spires (The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford) for a lively conversation exploring craft, character, and the evolving landscape of contemporary fiction.Moderated by Jordan Hernandez, Completely Booked
SIGNING - 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
11:00 AM - 11:40 AM
MONSTERS, MAGIC, AND MEANING: SPECULATIVE FICTION AS A MIRROR FOR REALITY
Step into new worlds with Isabel Kim (Sublimation), Nicole Glover (The Starseekers), Andrea Hairston (The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays), Vincent Tirado (You Should’ve Been Nicer to My Mom), as they discuss fantasy, horror and speculative storytelling that pushes boundaries and reimagines possibility. Moderated by Jordan Hernandez, Completely Booked
SIGNING - 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
12:00 Noon - 12:40 PM
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH: WRITING THROUGH PAIN, MEMORY, & WITNESS
Join Sarah Aziza (The Hollow Half), Camonghne Felix (Let The Poets Govern), Tamela J. Gordon (Hood Wellness), Lisa E. Davis (Our Minds Were Always Free) for a powerful discussion on truth-telling, healing, and the role of story in documenting lived experience. Moderated by Jessica Diaz (Oyemé)
Signing - 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TIFFANY D. JACKSON with MAIYA THE DON
Join New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson (Scammer, Blood in the Water) in conversation with Maiya the Don as they discuss Tiffany’s impact on Black storytelling, centering complex Black girls, and weaving dynamic, thought provoking stories and more.
SIGNING - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
2:00 PM - 2:40 PM
BRONX KEEPS CREATING IT
Celebrate queer storytelling with writers from the Bronx featuring Clarence A. Haynes (The Broken Hearts Agency), Vincent Tirado (You Should’ve Been Nicer to My Mom), Camonghne Felix (Let The Poets Govern), Alejandro Heredia (Loca) Moderated by Tamela J. Gordon (Hood Wellness)
SIGNING- 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
3:00 PM - 3:40 PM
LOVE IN FULL COLOR
Join Natasha Bishop (The Art of Loving You), Ashley Jordan (Once Upon a Time in Dollywood), Alexandra Villasante (Fireblooms) and Christine Pride (To All the Men I’ve Loved Again), Ashley Woodfolk (Queerleaders) for a vibrant discussion on crafting romance that celebrates joy, passion, and authentic love stories. Moderated by Morgan Menzies, Literary Curator, @PrettyLittleBookshelf
SIGNING - 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: S.A. COSBY with KENNEDY RYAN
Join New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby (King of Ashes) in conversation with Kennedy Ryan (Score) as they discuss craft, character, and writing stories that thrill, challenge and resonate deeply with readers.
SIGNING - 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
DOWNTOWN STAGE | PROGRAMMING (Subject to change without warning)
Sponsored by The Bronx is Reading
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
GIVEAWAY & CRAFTS
Kick off the day with hands-on fun for the whole family. Enjoy kid-friendly crafts, creative activities, and book giveaways while supplies last
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
STORY CORNER: NIGHT FLIGHT BY DAVID BARCLAY MOORE
Join award winning author David Barclay Moore for a heartfelt read aloud of Night Flight, a soaring story filled with wonder and hope.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
STORY CORNER: SALON SATURDAY BY JANELLE HARPER
Celebrate community, joy, and culture as Janelle Harper shares Salon Saturday, a vibrant picture book honoring the beauty of Black hair traditions.
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
STORY CORNER: JULIAN IS A MERMAID, & LITTLE PASSENGER BY JESSICA LOVE
Join author-illustrator Jessica Love for a tender reading of Julian Is a Mermaid, a celebration of identity, self-expression, and imagination. And Little Passenger
11:30 AM - 12:00 NOON
STORY CORNER: PLANTING HOPE BY FREDERICK JOSEPH
Join New York Times bestselling author Freederick Joseph as he reads Planting Hope, an inspiring story about community care, resilience, and nurturing change.
12:00 NOON-12:30 PM
STORY CORNER: I AM THE DREAM COME TRUE BY MARLEY DIAS
Join author and activist Marley Dias for an uplifting reading of I Am the Dream Come True, a powerful affirmation of self love and possibility.
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
MINDFULNESS BREAK FACILITATED BY LOFTY HEIGHTS MOVEMENT
2:00 PM -2:30 PM
STORY CORNER: VIVA VALENZUELA! ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN PARA
Join award winning illustrator and author John Parra for a warm and engaging storytime highlighting art, heritage, and family connections.
2:30 PM-3:00 PM
STORY CORNER: A BLACK GIRL & HER BRAIDS BY JAYLENE CLARK OWENS
Jaylen Clark Owens brings her joyful story to life in a read aloud that celebrates the creativity, pride, and cultural significance of Black braiding traditions in A Black Girl and Her Braids.
3:00 PM - 3:40 PM
ADVENTURE & MAYHEM: THE ART OF STORY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
Join Ali Terese (Vote for the GOAT), Shauna Grant (Baby-Sitter’s Little Sister: Karen’s Surprise), Kevin Blaize (Dogs of the Wild), and Angel Luis Colón (Minecraft House of Horrors) as they discuss writing adventurous, heartfelt, and imaginative stories for middle grade readers. Moderated by Kanika Mobley (Stories of a Colorful World)
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
BLACK IN AMERICA
Celebrate the artistry and cultural significance of Black hair with Janelle Harper (Salon Saturday), Jaylene Clark Owens (A Black Girl And Her Braids), Moderated by Kanika Mobley (Stories of a Colorful World)
4:30 PM 5:00 PM
SKETCHING IN A BRONX MINUTE
Don’t miss this high energy, interactive illustration showdown! Watch Shauna J. Grant (Baby-Sitter’s Little Sister: Karen’s Surprise), John Parra (Viva Valenzuela!), Jessica Love (Julian is a Mermaid), bring characters to life in real time with prompts from the audience. Facilitated by Alyssa Reynoso Morris