Experts to moderate author discussions at History Book Festival in Lewes

Nearly two dozen authors will be the center of attention during the Third Annual History Book Festival in Lewes Saturday, Sept. 28, but the area residents who will moderate the presentations are worthy of note, as well. Many of the moderators have impressive credentials in the arts, diplomacy, the law and literature.

Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton, the United States representative to Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands from 2009-13, will lead the discussion with Marie Arana, author of “Silver, Sword, and Stone: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story.” In addition to her diplomatic assignment, Fulton was a partner in the law firm Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C. She and Arana will take the stage at the Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave., at 10 a.m.

Retired Justice Randy J. Holland, the youngest person ever appointed to the Delaware Supreme Court and the longest-serving justice in the state’s history, will interview Professor Robert L. Tsai, author of “Practical Equality: Forging Justice in a Divided Nation.” Their talk begins at 11:30 a.m., at Bethel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 129 West 4th St.

History Book Festival Co-Founder and Co-Director Ronald Collins, the author or co-author of 11 books and retired Harold S. Shefelman Distinguished Scholar at the University of Washington School of Law, will lead the discussion with Stephen Budiansky, author of “Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Life in War, Law, and Ideas.” That session begins at 1:30 p.m., at the Bethel United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

Multi-media journalist, visual and performing artist, and award-winning writer Michael Sprouse will lead a discussion with Tim Mohr, author of “Burning Down the Haus: Punk Rock, Revolution, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.” Mohr, a club DJ in Berlin, and Sprouse, a punk rock DJ during his college days, will speak at 1:30 p.m. at the Lewes Public Library.

David Warick, a professional actor, improviser, and writer who teaches drama and English at Sussex Central High School, and is the founder and director of Delaware Comedy Theatre, will moderate a session with Rion Amilcar Scott, author of “The World Doesn’t Require You.” The discussion begins at 1:30 p.m., at the Rollins Community Center and Lewes History Museum, 101 Adams Ave.

Retired Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty member Ilona Holland will lead a panel discussion featuring three authors of picture books about lesser-known but accomplished women from history. The books and authors are “Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge,” by Rachel Dougherty; “Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins,” by Michelle Meadows; and “Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles,” by Patricia Valdez.

The panel discussion will begin at 10 a.m. at Bethel United Methodist Fellowship Hall.

Accomplished teacher and novelist Maribeth Fischer, the founder and executive director of the Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild, will interview the festival’s closing speaker at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29, at Cape Henlopen High School Theater, 1250 Kings Highway. Best-selling novelist Alice Hoffman will discuss her newest book, “The World That We Knew.”

Tickets for the closing address are available online at www.historybookfestival.org. All presentations Sept. 28 are free. 

The 2019 Festival’s keynote presentation, featuring Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Atkinson, is sold out. For those unable to purchase tickets and who wish to meet Atkinson and have him sign his book, “The British Are Coming,” the author will be available Sept. 28 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in the medium meeting room at the Lewes Public Library.

The full roster of 2019 festival authors, summaries of each book, moderator biographies, and the presentation schedule are available online at www.historybookfestival.org. The website also contains information about festival venues, parking, and free shuttle service that will run throughout the day Sept. 28. 

Authors are available to sign books after each presentation. Books featured in the festival may be purchased in advance at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach and at Biblion in Lewes. Books also are available for purchase at festival events, or may be borrowed from Delaware libraries.

Presenting sponsors of the festival are Delaware Humanities and iHeart Media. Other sponsors of the 2019 Festival include The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty, Schell Brothers, and Dogfish Head.

The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. For additional information on the festival, or to purchase tickets for the closing address, visit www.historybookfestival.org.