(upbeat music) - The Salt Lake Book Festival is a new downtown Salt Lake City event designed for readers and non-readers alike.

Amanda Warren and Sidney Smith join us to discuss how the festival is a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and also community connection.

Thank you so much for being here.

- Thanks for having us.

It's an honor.

- So why was it important for you to make sure that this was kind of a festival that didn't have the, I don't know, exclusivity of like, "Oh, I've read this many books in a year," and the people who keep those lists?

Not saying they can't come, but why did you decide to make it something that's open for all?

- Totally.

Yeah.

A big part of our ethos in creating the book festival was converting the people that read zero books a year to one.

And there's such importance in that work because the literary community, unfortunately, shoots itself in the foot by creating that sort of pretense.

It boxes people out, it gatekeeps.

But books are really for everyone, and reading can be such a pleasure.

And I think people have forgotten that, so we're really trying to invite people back to books.

- Yeah, kind of like a no-judgment zone.

I even saw on here, you guys are gonna offer a panel on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives."

How does that fit into everything?

(all laughs) - Yeah, it might have gotten a little far, but we do have a reality TV panel.

Parvati Shallow, a "Survivor" two-time winner, is coming, and Eli McCann, who just published his novel, "Stitched", is the moderator there.

So there's this theme around- - Reality TV, and it might skew to Utah just because it's in zeitgeist right now.

- Yeah.

- Yep.

It definitely is.

What are some other things people will be able to participate in and even support at this event?

- Well, we have some other really incredible panels.

So we're getting into the spooky season with October, so we will have horror panels for all different age groups, for middle readers, YA, and for adults, which will be so fun.

And they'll be talking about horror themes in their novels and fear as a concept.

So that will be really exciting.

- And the marketplace and food and all kinds of things people can participate in as well, right?

- Totally.

Yeah.

We got KRCL on the tune, so they're helping us with our music stage that's happening at the Olympic Plaza at The Gateway.

So that'll be a place for you to enjoy.

And really, we just hope that everyone comes through and enjoys the celebration of the written word.

- And now's a great time.

Well, thank you so much for sharing this information.

If you would like to learn more about the Salt Lake Book Festival, The Prologue party is October 16th, and the festival kicks off on the 17th from 10:00 AM until 6:30 PM.

Just head to saltlakebookfestival.org for more details.

I'm Liz Adeola, and thank you for watching "Contact".

(upbeat music) Philanthropy, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Liz Adeola, the new host of “Contact,” a show that connec with local events and organizati that serve your community.

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