2012 National Book Festival

Library of Congress

The 2012 National Book Festival was held on Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Our podcast series features one-on-one chats with some of this year's featured authors.

  1. 09/20/2012

    Jeff Kinney: 2012 National Book Festival

    Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Jeff Kinney, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyJeff Kinney is the author of the bestselling and award-winning Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, which has more than 75 million copies in print worldwide. The seventh book in the series is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever.” Kinney says he knew he wanted to be a cartoonist from the early 1990s, when he attended the University of Maryland.

    12 min

  2. 09/18/2012

    Wendy Cumberland: 2012 National Book Festival

    Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with Wendy Cumberland of the Junior League of Washington, which has volunteered at the Library of Congress National Book Festival since its inception. BiographyWendy Cumberland is president of the Junior League of Washington.

    10 min

  3. 09/17/2012

    Stephen L. Carter: 2012 National Book Festival

    Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Stephen L. Carter, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyStephen L. Carter is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale University, where he has taught for almost 30 years. He is also the author of seven acclaimed works of nonfiction and three best-selling novels. He has a law degree from Yale and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Carter’s first novel, “The Emperor of Ocean Park,” spent 11 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list in 2002. His fifth and latest novel is “The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln.”

    17 min

  4. 09/14/2012

    Walter Isaacson: 2012 National Book Festival

    Roberta Shaffer from the Library of Congress speaks with author Walter Isaacson, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyWalter Isaacson is the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan educational and policy studies organization based in Washington. He has been the chairman and CEO of CNN and the editor of Time magazine. His best-selling books include “Einstein: His Life and Universe,” “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life,” Kissinger: A Biography” and, most recently, “Steve Jobs” (Simon & Schuster), his biography of the visionary former head of Apple Computer. Isaacson is also chairman of the board of Teach for America, which recruits recent college graduates to teach in underserved communities.

    11 min

  5. 09/13/2012

    Michael Connelly: 2012 National Book Festival

    Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Michael Connelly, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyMichael Connelly, who has sold more than 45 million books worldwide, decided to become a writer after discovering the books of Raymond Chandler while attending the University of Florida. After graduating in 1980, Connelly worked at newspapers in Florida, specializing in the crime beat. He has also been a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. After three years on the crime beat in Los Angeles, Connelly began writing his first novel to feature LAPD Detective Hieronymus Bosch. The novel, “The Black Echo,” won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Connelly’s new novel is “The Drop,” featuring Harry Bosch.

    18 min

  6. 09/12/2012

    R.L. Stine: 2012 National Book Festival

    Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author R.L. Stine, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyR.L. Stine has sold more than 350 million books, making him one of the best-selling children’s authors in history. When he was 9, R.L. found an old typewriter in the attic. That discovery changed his life. He carried it down to his room and started typing stories and little joke books. His Goosebumps series began in 1992. The series quickly became a hit around the world and has been translated into 32 languages. Stine’s new book is “Goosebumps Most Wanted #1: Planet of the Lawn Gnomes.”

    14 min

  7. 09/11/2012

    Rafael López: 2012 National Book Festival (English)

    Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with artist Rafael López, who illustrated the poster for the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival and will appear there on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyThis year’s Library of Congress National Book Festival poster artist is Rafael López, whose work is a fusion of strong, colorful graphic style and magical symbolism. Growing up in Mexico City, Lopez was immersed in the rich cultural heritage and native color of street life. Influenced by Mexican surrealism and myths, he developed a style with roots in these traditions. His illustrations for Book Fiesta!, written by Pat Mora, were the recipient of the 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award given by the American Library Association to honor work that best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books. The 2011 stamps he created for the U.S. Postal Service celebrated Latin music legends Celia Cruz, Carlos Gardel, Carmen Miranda, Tito Puente and Selena.

    14 min

  8. 09/11/2012

    Rafael López: 2012 National Book Festival (Spanish)

    Francisco Macias from the Library of Congress speaks with artist Rafael López, who illustrated the poster for the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival and will appear there on Sept. 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. BiographyThis year’s Library of Congress National Book Festival poster artist is Rafael López, whose work is a fusion of strong, colorful graphic style and magical symbolism. Growing up in Mexico City, Lopez was immersed in the rich cultural heritage and native color of street life. Influenced by Mexican surrealism and myths, he developed a style with roots in these traditions. His illustrations for Book Fiesta!, written by Pat Mora, were the recipient of the 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award given by the American Library Association to honor work that best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books. The 2011 stamps he created for the U.S. Postal Service celebrated Latin music legends Celia Cruz, Carlos Gardel, Carmen Miranda, Tito Puente and Selena.

    16 min
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The 2012 National Book Festival was held on Saturday, Sept. 22 and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Our podcast series features one-on-one chats with some of this year's featured authors.

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