Self-described book nerds, gentle readers, local authors and wannabes, write it down. Saturday Sept. 14, the South Coast Book Festival returns. This year it will be held Lake Charles Event Center. The news was announced at a City of Lake Charles Wednesday press conference by Mayor Nic Hunter who readily admitted he’s a bit of a book nerd.

“We need to promote a reading culture,” the Mayor said. This is critical. According to the World Population View, the literacy rate for our state is 27.1 percent, which is not good. We can make strides to improve this by opening up new opportunities to  explore many adventures one can take through reading a book. Book festivals foster connections by creating opportunities for readers and authors to gather together. They celebrate our literature and our history, present and future.”

Opening the festival will be Lake Charles Councilman and school board administrator Ronnie Harvey, Jr. to talk about his book, “The Playbook of Principles for Principals,” Thursday, September 12, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Tommeka Simien, LIteracy Council, said the event will include regional and state authors, bookish sessions for all ages, writing workshops, a digital learning lab and marketing help for authors. Also included will be a Kids Zone, storytelling, arts and crafts, activities and prizes for young readers.

Jacob Duplechain was recognized as the 2020 Literacy Council Bookmark art award winner. He is a fifth grade student at S. John Elementary.

For more information, call the Literacy Council at 337-494-7000.