Join us at Riverside Book Festival!
Get ready to have an amazing day at Riverside Book Festival. Discover new books, listen to author panels, and experience activities for the whole family. Don't miss out on Riverside's first annual book festival!
Keynote Speaker Lee Herrick, California Poet Laureate
Keynote Speaker California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick is scheduled to talk about his adoption from Korea to the California Poet Laureateship—the first Asian American to ever hold the post—and the transformational impact of writing and creativity in our lives.
Lee Herrick is the author of four books of poems: In Praise of Late Wonder: New and Selected Poems (Gunpowder Press, September 2024); Scar and Flower, finalist for the 2020 Northern California Book Award; Gardening Secrets of the Dead; and This Many Miles from Desire.
He was born in Daejeon, Korea and adopted as an infant. He lives with his family in Fresno, California and served as Fresno Poet Laureate from 2015-2017. He teaches at Fresno City College and in the low-residency MFA program at University of Nevada Reno at Lake Tahoe. He is the 10th California Poet Laureate, and the first Asian American to serve in the role. In April 2025, he became the first California Poet Laureate to be officially reappointed to a second two-year term.
Nationally acclaimed, award-winning authors
Susan Straight
Susan Straight
Susan Straight
Susan Straight has published nine novels, including Mecca, A Million Nightingales, and Highwire Moon, and one memoir, In the Country of Women. She received the Lannan Prize, the O. Henry Award, the Edgar Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. Her fiction has been translated into ten languages. She was born in Riverside, California, where she lives with her family.
Alex Espinoza
Susan Straight
Susan Straight
Alex Espinoza (he/him/his/they) is a queer writer with a disability. He was born in Tijuana, Mexico––on Kumeyaay original lands––to Purepécha parents from the state of Michoacán and raised in Southern California, on Gabrieliño-Tongva land. He is the author of Still Water Saints, The Five Acts of Diego León, Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime. His newest novel, The Sons of El Rey, was published by Simon and Schuster in 2024.
Tod Goldberg
Susan Straight
Cassandra Lane
Tod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books, including the acclaimed Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, Gangster Nation, The Low Desert: Gangster Stories and Gangsters Don’t Die. He is also the author of the popular popular Burn Notice series. His most recent books include Eight Very Bad Nights, Only Way Out, and Salton Sea, due out in 2026. His books have been published in a dozen languages and around the world.
Cassandra Lane
Cassandra Lane
Cassandra Lane
Cassandra Lane is author of We Are Bridges (Feminist Press, 2021), winner of the 2020 Louise Meriwether First Book Prize, and managing editor of L.A. Parent magazine. She previously worked as a newspaper reporter, high school teacher, community relations manager for the Dodgers, and senior communications writer. Ms. Lane received an M.F.A. from Antioch University LA. A Louisiana native, she has lived in Los Angeles since 2001.
Samantha Dunn
Cassandra Lane
Samantha Dunn
Samantha Dunn is the author of Failing Paris, a finalist for the PEN West Fiction Award, as well as the memoirs Not By Accident: Reconstructing a Careless Life, a BookSense 76 pick, and Faith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex and Salvation, which has been in development at Lifetime Television. She has also written for the stage and television, and is a member of the writers Guild of America. Ms. Dunn lives in Southern California.
Ron Arias
Cassandra Lane
Samantha Dunn
Ron Arias is an acclaimed American author and journalist known for his vivid storytelling and exploration of cultural identity and human resilience. His celebrated works, such as National Book Award–nominated The Road to Tamazunchale and The Wetback and Other Stories, delve into themes of community, memory, and the richness of Latino life. His most recent work of fiction is the epic Gardens of Plenty.
Isabel Quintero
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Isabel Quintero is an award-winning writer from the Inland Empire. Her works include: Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, the Ugly Cat and Pablo series (illustrated by Tom Knight), Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide (illustrated by Zeke Peña), My Papi Has a Motorcycle (illustrated by Zeke Peña), several anthologies, and most recently Mamá’s Panza (illustrated by Iliana Galvez). She has several books forthcoming from Kokila.
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez is a children’s book author based in California. Her picture books include Not Far from Here, Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown (Abrams Young Readers, 2025), My Huipil (Candlewick Press, 2026), and Vroom, Vroom Vamonos: From School Bus to Chicken Bus (Scholastic, 2027). Her storytelling is inspired by her children as well as her Guatemalan and Basque roots. Nydia strives for inclusivity and diversity in all her creative endeavors.
Loris Lora
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Carlos Cortés
Loris Lora is an award-winning Latina illustrator and designer from Southern California whose colorful artwork brings a playful approach to everyday life. She draws inspiration from her Mexican upbringing, mid-century illustration and design, pop culture, and bright colors. Ms. Lora was most recently awarded a Pura Belpré Honor for Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (HarperCollins) and May Your Life Be Deliciosa (Cameron Kids/Abrams).
Carlos Cortés
Carlos Cortés
Carlos E. Cortés is the author of a memoir, Rose Hill: An Intermarriage before Its Time and an award-winning book of poetry, Fourth Quarter: Reflections of a Cranky Old Man. Dr. Cortés served as Cultural Consultant for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and received the 2009 NAACP Image Award for being the Creative/Cultural Advisor for Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! He recently published his first novel, Scouts' Honor.
J.D. Mathes
J.D. Mathes grew up a feral child in the deserts of the American Southwest who loved to read library books. He is the award-winning author of five books: Ahead of the Flaming Front: A Life on Fire, winner of the North American Book Prize; Shipwrecks and Other Stories, an essay collection Fever and Guts: A Symphony; The Journal West: Poems; and the forthcoming Of Time and Punishment: A Memoir - the result of his PEN America Writing for Justice Fellowship.
And Much More!
Hear from an amazing array of local poets and authors — and enjoy Inlandia's very own Inlandia Books Road Show!
Meet the Authors
A special VIP experience is available for $75, which includes a social hour with refreshments alongside our headlining authors. Open from 4-6 PM. Enjoy views of Mount Rubidoux from the library's terrace. Space is limited and tickets are first come, first served. Tickets may be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/RBFVIP.
Ways to Get Involved
Exhibitors
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
Performers
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
Volunteers
Help us make the Riverside Book Festival a success. Be the one behind the scenes!
Where to Park in Downtown Riverside
The Riverside Book Festival will make its debut at Riverside Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Avenue in downtown Riverside, from 11 AM - 6 PM on October 11. Admission is free and the event is family friendly.
Nearby parking is available at Raincross Tower Parking, 3801 University Avenue (entrance on Mission Inn), which will be open from 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM on October 11. Raincross Tower is directly adjacent to Riverside Main Library.
Parking is also available at City garages, as shown on the map.
