The Artsy Bookworm, a local independent bookstore in Rock Island that prides itself on carrying the books of more than thirty local authors, is holding its first Annual Author Conference and Book Fair on November 13. The public is invited to the Book Fair, and the event is free of charge.
Authors affiliated with the store offer a wide range of genres with some having published their first book recently while others have been publishing for years. The plan for the conference grew out of what Tamara Felden, the owner of the store, recognized as a need among the writers with whom she works.

“Writing is hard, and it is lonely,” says Felden. “In our events with individual authors, time and again someone would mention strategies and experiences that made me think, I wish all of our writers could hear this.” To facilitate networking and mutual support, the Artsy Bookworm is bringing together fifteen local authors to meet and greet and for group discussions and longer-term collaboration.
The Book Fair section of the day will offer our community a chance to meet the writers, discuss writing, publishing, and more with them, and get books signed. “We have so many excellent writers here in the Quad Cities,” says Felden, “and we need more opportunities to discover and nurture them.”
Felden is asking everyone to save Sunday, November 13, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm for this unique event. It is being held at Skylark (4401 7 th Avenue, Rock Island). “Skylark is the perfect spot for us,” says Felden, “because the space is beautiful and just the right size for this. It is also easy to find, and we have ample parking at the Lion’s Club across the street.”

The authors participating in the event are:
Jotham “Joe” Austin II, Mike Bayles, Nydia Caraman, Melissa Conway, Daniel Drake, Jessica Glassburn,
Salvatore “Sal” Marici, Tom McKay, Amanda McNeill, Elaine Olson, Jannifer Powelson, Nadine M. Roth,
Lilly Setterdahl, Misty Urban, and Lisa Vihos. Genres include mystery and memoir, sci-fi and poetry,
essays and historic fiction.
The books are available at the Artsy Bookworm, 1319 30 th Street in Rock Island, and can be purchased at
the Book Fair as well.
“Getting to know writers is not just a question of learning about their books”, suggests Felden, “but of
meeting people who have thought deeply about important topics, are living interesting lives, and make
fascinating conversation partners. If this is new for you, try it. I think you’ll like it.”
The Artsy Bookworm is located at 1319 30 th Street in Rock Island and is open Wednesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays from 11:00am to 5:00pm, Thursdays from 11:00am to 7:00pm, and Sundays from 12:00pm to
4:00pm. More information at theartsybookworm.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact
the store at contact@theartsybookworm.com or (309) 558-0278.