FoCo Book Fest 2026 Schedule

Dates: April 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2026

Session + Book Fair Venue: Foothills Mall
215 E Foothills Pkwy, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Kickoff: Friday, April 10 @ Visit Fort Collins Welcome Center
7 Old Town Square suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80524

All events are free and open to the public; tickets strongly requested.

Friday, April 10 — Kickoff @ Visit Fort Collins Welcome Center

7:30 PM · Special Kickoff: Poetry Reading & Bookstore Event Melissa Mitchell

Saturday, April 11 — Foothills Mall

9:30 AM · Make New Friends, Keep the Old: A Girl Scouts Storytime & Friendship Workshop Girl Scouts of Colorado

A storytime and hands-on workshop for kids and families, presented by Girl Scouts of Colorado.

Girl Scout volunteers will read aloud from Make New Friends, Keep the Old while pausing to explore vocabulary, follow the words on the page, and talk through what we’re hearing together. After the reading, kids and adults alike will try a simple connection activity: draw something you love, introduce yourself to someone new, and discover what your new friend loves too.

Rooted in this year’s festival theme of Multitudes, this session celebrates the many kinds of friends we make throughout our lives: the ones we’ve always known and the ones we haven’t met yet.

Open to all ages. Families with young children especially welcome.

11:30 AM · Romance Panel Jenny Elder Moke, Chelsea Pennington, Sarah Reichert

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult fiction. Her adult debut, She Doesn’t Have a Clue, is a murder-mystery rom-com published by Minotaur Books. jennyeldermoke.com

Chelsea Pennington is a romance author with two published books, including the sapphic contemporary romance A Gardener’s Guide to Love and Loathing (2025). chelseapenningtonauthor.com

Sarah Reichert (S.E. Reichert) is a writer, novelist, poet, and the Director of Writing Heights Writers Association. She is the author of the award-winning Sweet Valley Series. sarahreichertauthor.com

1:30 PM · SciFi/Fantasy Panel Lyndsie Clark, Nicole Aisling

Lyndsie Clark is a Colorado-based linguist, editor, swordfighter, and author of the cyberpunk series The Savant Uprising. Her debut novel In Memoriam was published in 2025. lyndsieclark.com

Nicole Aisling writes YA fantasy grounded in biology and physics. Her titles include Chasing Nightmares (2024), The Sound of Nothing (2025), and The Mountains of Fury (2026). nicoleaisling.com

3:30 PM · Degrees of Freedom: On Robotics and Social Justice Tom Williams

Tom Williams is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Colorado School of Mines, Director of the MIRRORLab, and author of Degrees of Freedom: On Robotics and Social Justice (MIT Press, 2025). He is also the artistic director of Dramatheurgy, a Denver-based improvisational theater company. tomwilliams.phd

5:30 PM · Horror Panel Carter Wilson, Emy McGuire, Catlyn Ladd

Carter Wilson is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of ten psychological thrillers, including Tell Me What You Did. He is the host of the Making It Up podcast and founder of Unbound Writer. carterwilson.com

Emy McGuire is a professional author, actor, playwright, and pirate. Her debut commercial thriller No One Aboard is published through HarperCollins. emymcguire.com

Catlyn Ladd (she/her) is a former professor of philosophy, religion, and women’s studies whose fiction appears in over a dozen magazines and anthologies. Her debut novel As Those Above Fall is published by Winding Road Stories. catlynladd.com

7:30 PM · Book Talk & Signing TBD

TBD

Friday, April 17 — Foothills Mall

Friday, April 17 · 5:30 PM Poetry Curious: How to Get Started on Becoming a Poet Melissa Mitchell

Fort Collins Poet Laureate Melissa Mitchell guides attendees through beginning their poetry practice — because, as she says, you already are a poet. melissamitchellpoetry.com

7:30 PM · Poetry Reading Melissa Mitchell, Michele Battiste, Juan Morales

Melissa Mitchell is Fort Collins’ current Poet Laureate. Her debut poetry chapbook Portrait Lands was released in December 2025. melissamitchellpoetry.com

Michele Battiste is the author of four poetry collections, including The Elsewhere Oracle (Black Lawrence Press). Her work has appeared in American Poetry Review, Cleaver, and The Rumpus. michelebattiste.net

Juan J. Morales is the author of four poetry collections, including The Handyman’s Guide to End Times (University of New Mexico Press). He is an Assistant Professor of English at Colorado College. @juanmorales579 on Instagram

Saturday, April 18 — Foothills Mall

9:30 AM · The Alchemy of a Novel Laura Resau

Laura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers and eleven acclaimed books for young people, earning five Colorado Book Awards. She teaches graduate creative writing at Western Colorado University and lives in Fort Collins. LauraResau.com

11:30 AM · In Conversation: Writing a Genre-Bending Book Sheala Dawn Henke & Jenny Elder Moke

Sheala Dawn Henke has been an elementary educator for over 27 years and is the author of the IDEA33 YA science fiction trilogy and the forthcoming middle-grade title Prickle Magic (2026). sdhenke.com

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult fiction. Her adult debut, She Doesn’t Have a Clue, is a murder-mystery rom-com published by Minotaur Books. jennyeldermoke.com

1:30 PM · Tips for Writing (Poems or Anything You Want to Write) Juan Morales

Juan J. Morales is the author of four poetry collections, including The Handyman’s Guide to End Times (University of New Mexico Press). He is an Assistant Professor of English at Colorado College. @juanmorales579 on Instagram

3:30 PM · Writing Tips for Young Writers Jared Woodcox

Jared Woodcox is the author of the Shadow Casters YA fantasy series, including Journey to Torcia (2024) and Defense of Huo Quiana (2025). He’s a Fort Collins native who balances writing with coaching youth sports. shadowcasterseries.com

5:30 PM · Creating a Graphic Novel: From Script to Finished Art Kelsi Jo Silva

Kelsi Jo Silva is a Colorado-based illustrator and author. Their debut graphic novel Off Menu was published in 2024 with Little Bee Books, and released in the UK as The Restaurant at the Edge of the World by Faber & Faber. kelsijosilva.com

Workshops

Saturday, April 18 ·

11:30 AM · In Conversation: Writing a Genre-Bending Book Sheala Dawn Henke & Jenny Elder Moke

Sheala Dawn Henke has been an elementary educator for over 27 years and is the author of the IDEA33 YA science fiction trilogy and the forthcoming middle-grade title Prickle Magic(2026). sdhenke.com

Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult fiction. Her adult debut, She Doesn’t Have a Clue, is a murder-mystery rom-com published by Minotaur Books. jennyeldermoke.com

Friday, April 17 · 5:30 PM Poetry Curious: How to Get Started on Becoming a Poet Melissa Mitchell

Fort Collins Poet Laureate Melissa Mitchell guides attendees through beginning their poetry practice — because, as she says, you already are a poet. melissamitchellpoetry.com

Saturday, April 18 · Time 5:30 PM Creating a Graphic Novel: From Script to Finished Art Kelsi Jo Silva

Kelsi Jo Silva is a Colorado-based illustrator and author. Their debut graphic novel Off Menu was published in 2024 with Little Bee Books, and released in the UK as The Restaurant at the Edge of the World by Faber & Faber. kelsijosilva.com

Tabling Authors

Meet these authors at their signing tables during event hours on the dates listed.

Tabling hours: Saturdays Only 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM

A.J. Calvin · April 11 & 18 ajcalvin.net

Ad Astra Science Fiction and Fantasy · April 11 & 18 adamgaffenauthor.com

Anna Eileen · April 11 & 18 Wattpad profile

Atlas Literature · April 11 only scifiliterature.com

Brian Kaufman · April 11 & 18 authorbriankaufman.com

Curious Boy Books · April 11 & 18 curiousboybook.com

Diane Dickinson · April 18 only (website pending)

Elena Sobol · April 18 only elenasobolauthor.com

Kidd Commander · April 11 & 18 shinesurge.net

Kylee the Writer · April 11 & 18 Kyleethewriter.com

Local Hero Press · April 11 & 18 localheropress.com

Primordial Pals · April 11 & 18 primordialpals.com

Rotten Apple Writer · April 11 & 18 rottenapplewriter.com

T.J. Champitto · April 11 & 18 tjcauthor.com

Youth-Specific Workshops & Sessions

9:30 AM · Make New Friends, Keep the Old: A Girl Scouts Storytime & Friendship Workshop Girl Scouts of Colorado

A storytime and hands-on workshop for kids and families, presented by Girl Scouts of Colorado.

Girl Scout volunteers will read aloud from Make New Friends, Keep the Old while pausing to explore vocabulary, follow the words on the page, and talk through what we’re hearing together. After the reading, kids and adults alike will try a simple connection activity: draw something you love, introduce yourself to someone new, and discover what your new friend loves too.

Rooted in this year’s festival theme of Multitudes, this session celebrates the many kinds of friends we make throughout our lives: the ones we’ve always known and the ones we haven’t met yet.

Open to all ages. Families with young children especially welcome.

Saturday, April 18 · 3:30 PM Writing Tips for Young Writers Jared Woodcox

Practical writing tips for aspiring young authors, from a YA fantasy author who still remembers what it felt like to start. shadowcasterseries.com

Saturday, April 18 · Time 5:30 PM Creating a Graphic Novel: From Script to Finished Art Kelsi Jo Silva

Kelsi Jo Silva is a Colorado-based illustrator and author. Their debut graphic novel Off Menu was published in 2024 with Little Bee Books, and released in the UK as The Restaurant at the Edge of the World by Faber & Faber. kelsijosilva.com

Tabling Authors

Meet these authors at their signing tables during the Book Fair. Tabling takes place Saturdays only (April 11 & April 18) from 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM at Foothills Mall (authors may not be present for the whole time!)

A.J. Calvin

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 A.J. Calvin is a science fiction/fantasy novelist from Loveland, Colorado, known best for The Caein Legacy series and The Relics of War series. By day she works as a microbiologist; in her free time, she writes. She lives with her husband, a turtle, and a saltwater aquarium. When not working or writing, she enjoys scuba diving, hiking, and playing video games. ajcalvin.net

Ad Astra Science Fiction and Fantasy (Adam Gaffen)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Ad Astra Science Fiction & Fantasy brings stories and collectibles for every kind of fan. Explore the Cassidyverse — an award-winning, interconnected universe of science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, and romance. Hopepunk, inclusive, and rich with found family, rebellion, and characters who refuse to give up on the future. adamgaffenauthor.com

Anna Eileen

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 A debut author at 21, Anna Eileen is just getting her book out into the world and is excited to talk to readers about next steps for her series. Her debut novel Unspoken (2025) is a self-published romance/thriller.

Atlas Literature (Anthony Mick)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 Anthony Mick published his debut novel The Heir of Atlas in 2024. A Colorado Authors League Award Finalist, he serves on the CAL board as membership director and has given talks on writing at the Denver Women’s Press Club and the Castle Rock TriArts Festival. He is also an independent developmental editor for aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers. scifiliterature.com

Brian Kaufman

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Brian Kaufman is the author of ten novels, five textbooks, and a collection of novellas. He lives with his wife and dog in the Colorado mountains, dividing his time between blues guitar, weightlifting, book hoarding, and — most of all — writing. authorbriankaufman.com

Curious Boy Books (Louise Cutler)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Fort Collins artist and storyteller Louise Cutler is the author and illustrator of The Ant and The Curious Little Boy (2024), a children’s book that brings the magical idea of talking to an ant to life. Her work encourages curiosity, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for nature — one backyard adventure at a time. curiousboybook.com

Diane Dickinson

Appearing: Saturday April 18 Diane Dickinson is a mystery writer and author of Final Transaction (Black Rose Writing, 2024), a murder mystery set in present-day Houston’s real estate underworld — a fast-paced story of closeted behavior, spiraling secrets, and lethal consequences.

Elena Sobol

Appearing: Saturday April 18 Elena Sobol is an award-winning fantasy author who lives inside her head more than out. Coming up with new magic systems is her kink. Annoying her chubby cat is her passion. When not playing with her imaginary friends, she likes to paint and drink matcha tea. She lives in Utah with her husband, but stays put as little as possible — she’s traveled to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America in her constant pursuit of stories and sunrays. elenasobolauthor.com

Kidd Commander (Aria Bell)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 After a rigid evangelical upbringing backfired catastrophically, Aria Bell grew up to spend all their time making adamantly humanist stories. She’s been doing that since 2013 through comics and novels in the Kidd Commander series. He and his partner escaped Tennessee in 2023 and now live in Fort Collins, CO. shinesurge.net

Kylee the Writer (Kylee Awiech/Summers)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Kylee loves “that’s what she said” jokes and exploring the messy sides of being a woman in this world. She writes both young adult mysteries and adult romance. No matter the genre, her books are filled with diverse characters, humor, and mental health representation. kyleethewriter.com

Local Hero Press (Ian Thomas Healy)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Local Hero Press is a Denver-based micropublisher of quality superhero, fantasy, and science fiction — and the home of Ian Thomas Healy’s popular, long-running superhero series, the Just Cause Universe. localheropress.com

Primordial Pals (Ian Haramaki)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Ian Haramaki is a trans author and Colorado local focusing on queer fiction with a dark, romantic, and fantastical twist. His self-published debut novel MERCY landed to great success — including a wildly popular special edition with Rainbow Crate and a Queer Indie Award win. His forthcoming sequel MAGUS is set to release in 2026. primordialpals.com

Rotten Apple Writer (Paul Lonnegren)

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 Paul Lonnegren grew up in several places, but his favorite was Colorado, where he still resides. His books focus on healing through self-discovery and determination — stories about lessons learned as one grows up. His debut novel The Conditioning Tree (2025) is a literary/historical fiction novel set partly in Fort Collins in the late 1970s and 1980s. rottenapplewriter.com

T.J. Champitto

Appearing: Saturday April 11 & Saturday April 18 T.J. Champitto is a bestselling and award-winning author of The Medina Device and The Shadowmaker. Born in upstate New York and now based in South Carolina, he’s a former travel journalist, fluent in Italian, and a lover of art, history, and black coffee. He spent several years volunteering as an instructor for the Greenville Literacy Association. tjcauthor.com

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