The former chief legal officer at the CIA, a Fox News host and the author of a book on the Lululemon store murder will highlight the 15th annual Bethesda Literary Festival, set for April 11-13.
The event will take place over an entire weekend at locations across downtown Bethesda.
On Friday, April 11, former Acting General Counsel of the CIA John Rizzo will talk about his book, “Company Man: Thirty Years of Controversy and Crisis in the CIA.” Rizzo was the agency’s foremost legal authority during much of the War on Terror and approved drone strikes and controversial interrogation techniques.
“Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade will be in town on Saturday to talk about his book, “George Washington’s Secret Six,” a ring of six spies who helped George Washington during the height of the Revolutionary War.
Also on Saturday, author Peter Ross Range will talk his book “Murder In The Yoga Store: The True Story of the Lululemon Killings.”
The full schedule is after the jump.
Friday, April 11
7 p.m. – Award-Winning Essays & Short Stories
Hyatt Regency Bethesda (7400 Wisconsin Ave.)
Adult and high school winners from the Bethesda Literary Festival’s Essay & Short Story Contest will read their work and receive awards.
7 p.m. – Remarkable Writers
The Writer’s Center (4508 Walsh St.)
Reporter and author Steve Vogel, “The Pentagon: A History” and historian and writer Henry Wiencek, “Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves” will discuss their books.
8:30 p.m. – Controversy & Crisis in the CIA
The Writer’s Center
Join former CIA chief legal officer John Rizzo, author of “Company Man: Thirty Years of Controversy and Crisis in the CIA.”
Saturday, April 12
10 a.m. – Children’s Story Time
Barnes & Noble (4801 Bethesda Ave.)
Enjoy traditional and new favorite stories for children read by Barnes & Noble’s fabulous children’s booksellers. Ages 3-7.
10:30 a.m. – Music-n-Motion
Bethesda Library (7400 Arlington Rd.)
This family-friendly event features Music-n-Motion performer Tracey Eldridge. Through songs, stories and movement, Eldridge engages the audience in a most delightful way as they celebrate books and reading.
11 a.m. – Mother-Son Memoir
Residence Inn Bethesda (7335 Wisconsin Ave.)
Award-winning mystery writer Martha Grimes and her son, Ken Grimes, offer two points of view on their struggles with alcoholism in the memoir “Double, Double.” In alternating chapters, they share their stories of drinking, recovery, relapse, friendship, travel, work, success, and failure.
11 a.m. – George Washington’s Secret Six
Barnes & Noble
Join talk-show host and author Brian Kilmeade for a discussion and book signing of his New York Times bestselling book “George Washington’s Secret Six.”
12:30 p.m. – Lincoln Literature
Residence Inn Bethesda
Join William Martin, The New York Times bestselling author of 10 novels including “The Lincoln Letter,” and David O. Stewart, lawyer-turned-acclaimed author of the novel “The Lincoln Deception” and many award-winning non-fiction books.
1 p.m. – Family Story Time
Bethesda Library
Award-winning author and former Childrens’ Book Ambassador Jon Scieszka with his new book “Battle Bunny” and the celebration of “laughing your way through a good book.” Jon is also the author of “The Stinky Cheese Man,” “Spaceheddz” and “Guys Read.”
2 p.m. – Ripped from the Headlines
Residence Inn Bethesda
Meet award-winning journalist, writer and producer Stephen Jimenez of “The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard” and Peter Ross Range, author of “Murder In The Yoga Store: The True Story of the Lululemon Killings.”
2 p.m. – The Nanny Diaries Novelists
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Join The Nanny Diaries authors Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin as they discuss their newest D.C.-based novel, “The First Affair,” which will be coming to a movie theater near you soon.
2 p.m. – Finding Your Style in Pastel
Waverly Street Gallery (4600 East-West Highway, Suite 102)
Waverly Street Gallery member Jean Hirons will be discussing her recently published book on painting in the medium of pastel, “Finding Your Style in Pastel.”
2:30 p.m. – Teen Time
Bethesda Library
Author Laura Elliott once again brings World War II events alive through her new novel “Across A War-Tossed Sea.” She will also discuss her popular companion novel “Under A War Torn Sky.”
3 p.m. – Motivational Memoir
Barnes & Noble
Join author Caroline Adams Miller as she discusses her newest book, “Positively Caroline: How I Beat Bulimia for Good… and Found Real Happiness.” Book signing follows talk.
4 p.m. – Pulitzer Prize Author
Bethesda Library
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Willman discusses his book “Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the Anthrax Attacks and America’s Rush to War.”
5 p.m. – Poetry Readings and Awards
Gallery B
Hear readings from award-winning poet and Professor of English at George Washington University, David McAleavey, and the winners of the Bethesda Poetry Contest.
Sunday, April 23
11 a.m. – Alice McDermott
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Meet National Book Award winner and three-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Alice McDermott as she discusses her newest book, “Someone.”
12:30 p.m. – Wonderful Women Writers
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Join award-winning author Sujata Massey, “The Sleeping Dictionary,” and novelist Mary Kay Zuravleff, “Man Alive!,” for a discussion on their page-turning books.
2 p.m. – Noteworthy Non-Fiction
Gallery B
Seth Goldman, cofounder and TeaEO of Honest Tea, the nation’s top-selling organic bottle tea will discuss “Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently–and Succeeding.” Michael Sokolove, author and contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, will discuss his book “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater.”
2 p.m. – Selby McPhee and Natasha Saje
The Writer’s Center
Shelby McPhee will read from “Love Crazy.” She is joined by poet Natasha Saje, who reads from “Vivarium.” The reading will be followed by a reception and book signing.
3 p.m. – “The Person I Most Admire”
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Winners of the Bethesda Literary Festival’s Youth Writing Contest, “The Person I Most Admire,” read their stories and receive prizes.
