2025 KWBF Schedule

2025 Kentucky Women's Book Festival Schedule & Speakers

Download PDF of KWBF 2025 Schedule

Ekstrom Library Map

Time Session
9:30am-10am

Registration, Coffee & Conversation

Outside Chao Auditorium
9am-12pm

Book Sales

  • James Wilkerson
  • Lauren Vonckx
10:00am-11:15am

Welcome Remarks & Rita Award Presentation

Jamieca Jones, Interim Director UofL Women's Center

Robin Harris

Opening Plenary Panel: The Future of Literacy

Jefferson Community & Technical College Dean of English Jill Adams, University of Louisville Libraries’ Prof. Fannie Cox, Author and Louisville Book Festival organizer Deedee Cummings, and Foxing Books founder Kelly Nusz

 

Chao Auditorium
11:15-11:30am

Break to Breakout Sessions
11:30am-12:30pm

Breakout Sessions

  • Poetry Panel: Dr. Kristi Maxwell and Roberta Schultz (Bingham Poetry Room)
  • First-Time Novelists: Dr. Kelly Hill and Sarah Landenwich (Chao Auditorium)
  • Fantasy & World Building: Bobbie Falin andFallon Anne Willoughby (E117A)
  • Riot Grrls & 90s Music: James Wilkerson (W104)
12:30-1:30pm

Lunch - Box lunch pre-purchased 

Ekstrom First Floor East study area 

NOTE: Vending machines and Starbucks is also available in Ekstrom. 


Book Sales

  • James Wilkerson
  • Ellen Birkett Morris
  • Kristi Maxwell
  • Roberta Schultz
  • Lynn Slaughter
  • Noel Barton
  • Sarah Landenwich
  • Kelly Hill
  • Fallon Willoughby
  • Bobbie Falin
  • Deedee Cummings
  • Julie Marie Wade

Outside Chao Auditorium 


Ekstrom Library Highlights
1:45pm-2:45pm

Breakout Sessions

  • Contemporary Ekphrasis: Julie Marie Wade (Chao Auditorium)
  • Young Adult Literature: Lynn Slaughter and Noel Barton (W104)
  • Character as a Driver of Plot: Ellen Birkett Morris (E117A)
2-4:30pm

Book Sales

  • Bobbie Falin
  • Fallon Willoughby 
  • Noel Barton
  • Gin Spaulding

Chao Auditorium Lobby
3:00-4:00pm

Breakout Sessions

  • Finding an Agent, Building a Platform: Ellen Goff and Hope Gibbs (Chao Auditorium)
  • Children's Literature: Amy Foos Kapoor, Gin Spalding and Lauren Vonckx (W104)
4:00-4:30pm

Networking & Light Snacks

Chao Auditorium & Lobby