SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 4, 2026

2026 Six Bridges Book Festival: Session registration now open!

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2026 Festival Presenters

  • Razan Abdin and book "Splendidly Sawsan"

    Razan Abdin

    Splendidly Sawsan

  • Tolani Akinola and book "Leave Your Mess at Home"

    Tolani Akinola

    Leave Your Mess at Home

  • Allison M. Alford and book "Good Daughtering"

    Allison M. Alford

    Good Daughtering

  • Uchenna Awoke and book "A Siege of Owls"

    Uchenna Awoke

    A Siege of Owls

  • Lee Bains and book "Work Lunch"

    Lee Bains

    Work Lunch

  • Governor Andy Beshear and book "Go and Do Likewise"

    Governor Andy Beshear

    Go and Do Likewise

  • Ellie Black and book "Revelator"

    Ellie Black

    Revelator

  • Kevin Brockmeier and book "The Ghost Variations"

    Kevin Brockmeier

    The Ghost Variations

  • Jennifer Case and book "The Carework Project"

    Jennifer Case

    The Carework Project

  • Acie Clark and book "Small Talk"

    Acie Clark

    Small Talk

  • Quinn Connor and book "Your Beloved Remains"

    Quinn Connor

    Your Beloved Remains

  • Hope Coulter and book "Rumors of Hope"

    Hope Coulter

    Rumors of Peace

  • Eli Cranor and book "Where I'm Writing From"

    Eli Cranor

    Where I’m Writing From

  • Sarah Damoff and book cover for "The Burning Side"

    Sarah Damoff

    The Burning Side

  • Charlotte Druckman and book "Love in the Afternoon, and Evening: Essays and Conversations on Soap Operas"

    Charlotte Druckman

    Love in the Afternoon, and Evening

  • Karen Dukess and book "Welcome to Murder Week"

    Karen Dukess

    Welcome to Murder Week

  • Kathleen DuVal and book "Native Nations"

    Kathleen DuVal

    Native Nations

  • Ben Fountain and book "Rasputin Swims the Potomac"

    Ben Fountain

    Rasputin Swims the Potomac

  • Beverly Gage and book cover for "This Land is Your Land"

    Beverly Gage

    This Land is Your Land

  • Alex George and cover of book "In the Mood to bake"

    Alex George

    In the Mood to Bake

  • Ayana Gray and book cover for "Hawk and Sparrow"

    Ayana Gray

    Hawk and Sparrow

  • Jess H. Gutierrez and book "Adulting for Amateurs"

    Jess H. Gutierrez

    Adulting for Amateurs

  • Benjamin Hale and cover of book "Cave Mountain"

    Benjamin Hale

    Cave Mountain

  • Jordan Harper and book "A Violent Masterpiece"

    Jordan Harper

    A Violent Masterpiece

  • Nathan Harris and book "Amity"

    Nathan Harris

    Amity

  • Alix E. Harrow and cover of her book "The Everlasting"

    Alix E. Harrow

    The Everlasting

  • Annie Hartnett and cover of book "The Road to Tender Hearts"

    Annie Hartnett

    The Road to Tender Hearts

  • David George Haskell and book "How Flowers Made Our World"

    David George Haskell

    How Flowers Made Our World

  • Molly Irani and book "Service Ready"

    Molly Irani

    Service Ready

  • Chris Jennings and book "End of Days"

    Chris Jennings

    End of Days

  • Isabel Klee and book "Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About"

    Isabel Klee

    Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About

  • Christina Lauren and book "The Romance Revival"

    Christina Lauren

    The Romance Revival

  • Daria Lavelle and book "Aftertaste"

    Daria Lavelle

    Aftertaste

  • Ariel Lawhon and cover of her book "The Pirate Queen"

    Ariel Lawhon

    The Pirate Queen

  • Paige Lewis and book "Canon"

    Paige Lewis

    Canon

  • James H. McCommons and book "The Feather Wars"

    James H. McCommons

    The Feather Wars

  • Beronda L. Montgomery and cover of book "When Trains Testify"

    Beronda L. Montgomery

    When Trees Testify

  • Charly Palmer and "How Sweet the Sound"

    Charly Palmer

    How Sweet the Sound

  • Robert G. Parkinson and cover of book "Tyrants and Rogues"

    Robert G. Parkinson

    Tyrants and Rogues

  • Deesha Philyaw and book "The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman"

    Deesha Philyaw

    The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman

  • Andrew Porter and book "The Imagined Life"

    Andrew Porter

    The Imagined Life

  • Mayukh Sen and book "Love in the Afternoon, and Evening: Essays and Conversations on Soap Operas"

    Mayukh Sen

    Love in the Afternoon, and Evening

  • T.L. Simpson and book "Copefield"

    T.L. Simpson

    Copefield

  • Emily Sonderberg and book "How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder"

    Emily Sonderberg

    How to Talk to Your Dog About Murder

  • Carrie Lee South and book "In the Woods They Wait"

    Carrie Lee South

    In the Woods They Wait

  • Ragan Sutterfield and book "Watch and Wonder"

    Ragan Sutterfield

    Watch and Wonder

  • Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney and book "Lake Effect"

    Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

    Lake Effect

  • Madeline Taylor and book "Heir of Illusion"

    Madeline Taylor

    Heir of Illusion

  • Hannah Whitten and book "Reliquary"

    Hannah Whitten

    Reliquary

  • Nikesha Elise Williams and book "The Seven Daughters of Dupree"

    Nikesha Elise Williams

    The Seven Daughters of Dupree

  • Stacey Yu and book "Kitten"

    Stacey Yu

    Kitten

A Six Bridges Book Festival Fundraising Event

An Evening with Ariel Lawhon

Spend an unforgettable evening with Ariel Lawhon, visiting Little Rock while on book tour for her forthcoming novel The Pirate Queen, which will be published on September 8, 2026. The Pirate Queen is a sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people. 

Whether you’re a devoted reader of historical fiction or simply curious about the stories hidden in history, this special event promises insight, inspiration, and a memorable literary experience.

This ticketed event will also raise funds so the Six Bridges Book Festival can continue providing free public programs in Central Arkansas.

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Ariel Lawhon and cover of her book "The Pirate Queen"

Our Thanks

Support for the Six Bridges Book Festival is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. The Central Arkansas Library System gratefully acknowledges the support of the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau; the Darragh Foundation; the Rebsamen Fund; and the many other donors and partners who make this festival possible. The Junior League of Little Rock is a partner for the Little Readers Rock events.