Your opportunity to be part of a literary celebration is about to arrive. The annual Fall for the Book Festival begins on Sept. 11. It is a week-long, multi-venue affair with free events at locations throughout Fairfax County, and beyond.

From some of America's best-known writers, to emerging names, the Festival showcases a range of authors, including from Fairfax County. Of the Festival's 150 authors, Fairfax County authors include Young Adult author L.M. Elliott (Great Falls), Historian Tim Grove (Fairfax), mystery writers Kathryn O'Sullivan (Reston), Barb Goffman (Herndon) and Donna Andrews (Reston) to name a few.

For O'Sullivan, the book festival "brings people of all ages and backgrounds together who wish to celebrate the joy of reading and writing." She will be participating on a mystery writers panel discussing her latest book in the series "Murder on the Hoof." O'Sullivan enjoys " writing about fun, strong women."

According to Elliott, the festival is "a rich, cross-pollinating festival for everyone, authors included. I've always come away inspired and with new ideas." She will be discussing her "Across a War-tossed Sea" the final novel in a WWII trilogy and companion to "Under a War-torn Sky", the story of a downed pilot and the French Resistance, which has been on Fairfax County Public School's summer reading lists.

Grove noted that "any event that focuses on the importance of the written word and the joy of reading is valuable." And history doesn't have to be "boring". He will discuss "A Grizzly in the Mail and Other Adventures in American History." It is a collection built upon his many years as a public historian. He is currently with the National Air and Space Museum.

To Goffman, the Festival "is especially wonderful because it has something for everybody". She will be talking about her mystery short-story collection, "Don't Get Mad, Get Even." It contains stories both previously published and new. Her story "The Lord Is My Shamus," won the Macavity Award last year for best short mystery story.

Andrews will be moderating a session. Her latest book is "The Good, the Bad, and the Emus." She sees her work as "a humorous traditional series" set in a small fictitious Virginia location with its woman protagonist involved "in sleuthing when one of her friends or family members is in trouble." Andrews will "usually look for a situation that can give rise to humor and homicide."

Come on down to the Fall for the Book and find some additions for your reading list.