The San Diego County Library will host its first book festival, Page One: Celebration of the Written Word, from Friday, October 16, through Sunday, October 18, in five library sites system-wide. The festival will feature nationally-known, best selling authors such as Joseph Wambaugh, Victor Villaseñor, Susan Vree-land, Jesse Kellerman, David Brin, Richard Lederer and Byrd Baylor, as well as more than 60 other published authors, such as Sue Ann Jaffarian, Denise Hamilton, Steve Gray, Rafael Lopez, Laura Preble and Kathi Diamant.

 The weekend-long event will include author talks, panel presentations covering a variety of book genres, receptions and book signings in the Bonita-Sunnyside, Encinitas, Poway and Vista libraries, as well as the County Administration Center. The event is free of charge and the public is invited.

 Aside from the talk by Victor Villaseñor, latino authors and authors who write on latino subjects will appear at two libraries speaking on panels and discussing “Latino Literature.” The Bonita Library, 4375 Bonita Rd, will host Rafael Lopez, Gil Sperry, Patricia Santana, Mary Castillo and Norma Bustamante on Saturday, October 17, at 2:30 p.m. The second panel, with Reyna Grande, Sandra Lopez and Patricia Santana, will take place at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Rd, on Sunday, October 18, at 2:30 p.m. Award-winning poet Francisco Alarcón will also speak at two libraries, the Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Av, on Saturday, October 17, at 11:30 a.m., and the Bonita Branch, Saturday, at 3:30 p.m.

 Greg Gutierrez, author of the popular Zen and the Art of Surfing will appear on a panel entitled “The Craft of Writing,” at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Dr, Friday, October 16, at 2:30 p.m. A list of selected books by these authors is at the end of this release. The authors’ books will be available for purchase and autographs.

 The kickoff event will take place on the west lawn of the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, south of the bookmobile stop, Friday, October 16, at 10:30 a.m. Best selling author Joseph Wam-baugh (The Choirboys, The Black Marble, The Onion Field, and many more titles) will make a special appearance. Also on the program will be three well-known crime writers, Tom Basinski, Caitlin Rother and Woody Clarke, with a panel presentation on “True Crime” books.

 Attendees are invited to spend an evening with best selling author Victor Villaseñor, at the Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Av, Friday, October 16, at 6 p.m. Villaseñor, author of Rain of Gold, Crazy Loco Love, and many others, will talk about his life and literature. The program will be followed by a book signing and reception. On Saturday, the library will host authors Francisco Alarcón and Richard Lederer, who will speak and autograph books. Author panels are scheduled throughout the weekend on literature such as “True Crime,” “Picture This: Kids’ Books,” “Mysteries – Who Dunnit?” and “Romance & Chick Lit.”

 Featured author at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library, 4375 Bonita Road, will be Susan Vreeland, best selling author of Luncheon of the Boating Party, Girl in Hyacinth Blue and more, Saturday, October 17. Vreeland will share insights into her fiction at at 11:30 a.m., with a reception and book signing session to follow. Authors Francisco Alarcón and Richard Lederer will speak and autograph books during the weekend. Author panels, followed by book signings, on the subjects of “True Crime,” “Picture This: Kids’ Books,” “Romance & Chick Lit,” “Latino Literature,” “Mysteries – Who Dunnit?” and “Looking Back – Memoirs” are scheduled on each day.

 The Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, will highlight author Jesse Kellerman, best selling mystery novelist (The Genius, Trouble, and Sunstroke), on Sunday, October 18, with a reception at 1 p.m., followed by a talk and book signing at 1:30 p.m. Along with author panels on the topics of “Written 4 U – Teens,” “Nonfiction,” “Looking Back – Memoirs” and “Writing for Children,” the library will host a panel on “The Craft of Writing” and a panel of publishing agents, including Jill Marr of the illustrious Sandra Dijkstra Agency. Richard Lederer will also speak on Saturday.

 Award-winning science fiction writer David Brin will head a panel, “Sci-Fi & the Vampire,” at the Poway Library, Sunday, October 18, at 1:30 p.m. Brin, known as a “futurist,” is the author of The Uplift Trilogy, The Transparent Society, Earth, and many more. A book signing will follow. Richard Lederer will appear on Friday, at 1:30. Panels throughout the weekend will cover topics such as “I ? Romance,” “Tweens,” “Noir Literature,” “Latino Literature” and “Graphic Novels.”

 Byrd Baylor, award-winning children’s author of When Clay Sings, The Desert is Theirs, The Way to Start a Day, and numerous others, will appear at the Borrego Springs Library, 587 Palm Canyon Drive, on Friday, October 16, giving a writing workshop to teens and adults at 3 p.m.; and speaking on Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m., with a 2 p.m. reception and book signing.