Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there’s no delete button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school—but NO ONE knows it.

Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don’t think she’s capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows. But she can’t. She can’t talk. She can’t walk. She can’t write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you’ll never, ever forget.

Award winning author and illustrator Sarah Campbell describes herself as a teaching artist. When she is not creating beautiful books that describe the natural world simply and clearly for children, you can often find her working in schools to connect children with the natural world and art. You can see examples of her photography and get a glimpse of her busy, beautiful life on her blog.

Bestselling authors Curtis Sittenfeld and Augusten Burroughs will  both be appearing at Books By the Banks.

Ms Sittenfeld, a native Cincinnatian, is the author of  “American Wife”, “Prep” and “The Man of My Dreams”, and has also authored non-fiction that  has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic Monthly, Salon, Allure, Glamour, and on public radio’s This American Life. Her books are being translated into twenty-five languages. Visit her website at www.curtissittenfeld.com.

Augusten Burroughs lives in Massachusetts and New York City. He is the author of “Sellevision”, a novel; “Running with Scissors” a memoir, “Dry” a memoir, “Magical Thinking”, true stories, “Possible Side Effects”, true stories and “A Wolf at the Table”, a memoir of my father. His next book, “You Better Not Cry: stories for Christmas” will be released on October 27th of this year . Check out his website, or  Facebook page for more info!

Books by the Banks 2010 featured many fun children’s authors- check it out!
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Help promote the book festival and download a Books by the Banks web banner to include on your website.

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How would Heather Henson describe her life in either words?  ”A “Green Acres” remake plus three.” Hear her talk about her books and career as a writer in her own words.

Heather Henson on being a writer