Up-and-coming writers will have the chance to meet fellow authors and hone their literary skills at the first Southern Kentucky Authors Showcase on Sept. 5 and 6. 

As an extension of the annual SOKY Book Fest, the authors showcase is a second chance for authors to get the word out about their writing. 

Kristie Lowry, literary outreach coordinator for WKU Libraries and Book Fest organizer, said the showcase was created after more than 80 writers were denied for this year’s Book Fest, due to scheduling and space issues. 

“The Book Fest will be in its 17th year in 2015, so it attracts a lot of people in the community,” Lowry said. “We had to turn down many authors. So we felt this was an opportunity that the community needed.”

The two-day showcase will take place in the Bob Kirby Branch of the Warren County Public Library system.

It will start off with a writers workshop on Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hosted by authors Mark Adams and Jennie Brown, the workshop will focus on editing and creating media kits. This workshop is geared toward those that have a completed manuscript, or are interested in small press publishing or self-publishing.

The second and final day will feature a meet-and-greet with more than 30 authors, including Brown and Adams. It will start at 10 a.m. on Sept. 6.

The SOKY Reads program will be handing out about 100 copies of featured authors’ books to the first attendees of this portion of the event. 

“There are certainly many students interested in being published at some point,” Lowry said. “This will give them the information they need about getting their works published.”

Ashley Fowlkes, assistant director for WCPL, said while the main branch of the library is in a more central location, the Bob Kirby Branch has more space and resources to accommodate visitors for this event. 

“We will have material to hand out to inform the community about services the library offers,” Fowlkes said. 

If this event proves to be successful, it may make another appearance.

“We’ll want to get feedback from the authors and guests,” Lowry said. “We can make the needed changes, and if the demand is there, we’ll probably host it next year as well.”