FINAL DAYS TO ENTER - Youth Writing Contest - Great American Book Festival

FINAL DAYS to enter the Emerging Young Authors Writing Contest.  This contest is for students in grades K-12 and encourages kids to find their voice through the written word.  Cash and prizes valued at over $600 awarded to selected honorees in five different categories based on age categories.  Learn more at GABfest.info

Event Sponsors: Who's Toy House, Ketel Thorstenson, LLP, and Scheels.  
Great American Book Festival is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  

Rush Hockey Coach, Dan Tetrault, & Team Mascot, Nugget, to attend reading at Great American Book Festival

Rapid City, SD

Reading is fun . . . and hockey is fun, but when you put the two together you have a truly winning combination!  Rapid City Rush Hockey Coach, Dan Tetrault will be at the Great American Book Festival on Mother's Day weekend to perform a children's picture book reading.  Joining him that day will be the Rush's own, Nugget.  Kids of all ages are invited to attend this and other readings throughout the day at the Great American Book Festival's GABfest Stage.  The Great American Book Festival takes place Saturday, May 11th from 9:00AM to 5:00PM.   Free and open to the public, the Festival will be held in downtown Rapid City at Main Street Square, 526 Main Street.  Other offerings that day will include author readings, book-signings, games, prizes, face painting, artisan booths, food trucks and more.  With nearly forty authors attending from around the world, GABfest 2019 is sure to be a truly outstanding community event.

To see the full schedule of events and to learn more about The Great American Book Festival, GABfest Writers' Conference and GABfest Lit Walk visit GABfest.info.  Great American Book Festival is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  

Meet Author, Christine Wissner

Embrace the enchanting world of historical romance in Christine Wissner’s epic novels. Her writing is rich with color and characterization.  She’s honed her skill via freelance journalism for national magazines. On the wings of love she delivers her stories and looks forward to meeting her readers one day.


Meet Christine Wissner
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Jud Widing

Jud Widing is an itinerant author of novels and short stories. He is a regular contributor to Everything Is Noise, and his fiction has appeared in publications such as Suspense Magazine, Storgy, Star 82 Review, The Offbeat and Medusa’s Laugh Press. He thinks you look very nice today, and is standing directly behind you.
Meet Jud Widing
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota


For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Randy Suits

Randy Suits is a christian author of both fiction, non-fiction books and music books. His fiction book, based on a musical play, has an available CD soundtrack which can also be purchased at Amazon and online book merchants. Mr Suits is devoted to fundraising for special needs children and senior citizens.

Meet Randy Suits
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Carolyn Sloan

Carolyn Sloan is a New York based, award-winning children’s book author, music educator, and songwriter. She is passionate about sharing her experience performing and teaching music with children and adults. Her books are interactive, with music playing a central role. Ms. Sloan’s kids’ songs encourage children to express themselves while teaching them about important concepts like freedom, courage, and identity, making music both exciting and personal. Ms. Sloan is currently working on a new book, Welcome to Jazz, set to be published in October of 2019, while also developing an online education company called, TeachMe TV designed to be a safe space for young children to explore and learn. Ms. Sloan loves to travel and cook. She can be found in her Brooklyn kitchen experimenting with new recipes collected from her adventures.


Meet Carolyn Sloan
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Kena Sosa

School librarian and author, Kena Sosa adores words, traveling, and playing the drums. She earned her bachelor’s degree from OLLU and master’s degree in bilingual education from SMU. Her first book, Rey Antonio and Rey Feo, celebrates her childhood in San Antonio. Her second book, Kindertransport: A Child’s Journey, is about the escape of children on the Kindertransport train just before the outbreak of World War II. Her recent release, The Unhuggables is an action-packed adventure about a boy who doesn’t want a hug and depicts love even in difficult moments. Her sons, Alessandro and Lucca, are her ultimate joy.

Meet Kena Sosa
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Shanalee Sharboneau

Shanalee Sharboneau, creator of the My Mama Loves Me and My Daddy Loves Me, children’s picture book series, has been awarded medal finalist in the International Book Award for Best Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction, Winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award for Best Children’s Picture Books Age five & Under and Awarded  Reader’s Favorite Five Stars twice. Her books have been recognized by the president of Ireland, Michael Higgins, financial guru, Dave Ramsey and former first lady, Laura Bush, and featured on Moving America Forward by William Shatner. Shanalee’s books are sold online all over the world.

Meet Shanalee Sharboneau
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Jonathan Schork

Jonathan Schork was born and raised in the mid-Hudson Valley and used the Catskills of his childhood as the setting for More Tales from the Enchanted Wood and The Love of Simon Fox. He has been writing since his teen years, and has navigated an eccentric career path that includes contributions to various Key West, Florida newspapers, the fashion magazine Disfunkshion, and several screenplays. His previous books include the 2015 illustrated young adult fantasy/adventure novella Fearless Inanna, and 2017’s collection of short plays, The Bathroom Rule. Mr. Schork is an award-winning artist currently residing in St.Petersburg, Florida.

Meet Jonathan Schork 
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Rachel Rust

Rachel Rust is a YA author from Sioux Falls who loves all things mysterious, romantic, and thrilling. Her published books include All Kinds of Bad, and The Escape Series trilogy. When not making up stories, she enjoys spending time with her family and their two dogs—a pug and a chug (chihuahua/pug). Rachel is represented by Eva Scalzo at the Speilburg Literary Agency.

Meet Rachel Rust

and other authors at

Great American Book Festival

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Main Street Square

Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Sandra Rostirolla

Born in Sydney, Australia, Sandra's first novel, Cecilia, is a Literary Classics Gold & Silver Award recipient. Her second novel, Making Friends with Monsters is presently with her editor and she is currently writing Cecilia BOOK 2 – Eifa's Revenge.

When she’s not imagining fantastical stories grounded by rules and reasoning, Sandra is usually renovating something around the house, sneaking away with her husband for a last minute ski-trip, or dealing with the unruly strays that seem to enjoy terrorizing her three cats.

Meet Sandra Rostirolla
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Anders Roseberg

Anders Roseberg is an award-winning children’s book author from Salt Lake City, Utah. Fusing vintage art with enchanting stories, his books captivate readers of all ages and reading levels, transporting them to worlds beyond their wildest imaginations. Anders has always been passionate about vintage memorabilia, rock ‘n roll music, and other art from the early to middle part of the 20th century and draws upon this aesthetic as inspiration for his books. His first picture book, Priscilla and the Sandman, which was inspired by a made-up lullaby he sang to his daughter Priscilla while he put her to sleep, uses vintage art to bring a magic story to life.

When he isn’t writing children’s books, he dabbles in writing music lyrics and writing film scripts. Although Priscilla and the Sandman is Ander’s first self-published children’s book, he continues to devote his time and energy to writing creative stories that will bring smiles and awe to future readers

Meet Anders Roseberg
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Lisa Reinicke

Lisa Reinicke loves cars and kids but realizes these two don’t go together, unless the kids in the car are asleep. She founded Automotive Warranty Network, helping 800 dealerships nationwide displaying skinned knees from falling down and getting back up. Failing is part of succeeding.

Lisa’s 4 children and 5 grandchildren remind her that life is a bowl of chocolates and that is why she needs to exercise. To eat more chocolate. She has written and published 5 children’s books receiving the Mom’s Choice Gold award. Her latest memoir Football Flyboy is a tribute to the greatest generation.

Lisa raises money for charities that improve children’s lives, and financially supports several veteran programs.

Meet Lisa Reinicke
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, A.J. Reilly

A.J. Reilly was born in Metro-Detroit to a Baptist preacher and a stay-at-home mother. He began writing in 2014 after the death of his grandfather, the man who became the inspiration for his debut novel The Askren Boys. He and his wife Jessica, and son Jack, live in the Metro-Detroit area.


Meet A.J. Reilly
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Julie Rasmussen

Julie Rasmussen is a slightly potty-mouthed artificial blonde, former president of a cartoonist’s company, and member of Mensa. Sometime in the early 90s, between drinking Zimas and stealing food from the cafeteria, she got a journalism degree and later worked in the newspaper industry. She now writes and speaks on her own humorous journey into New Age Spirituality. She lives in Colorado with her teenage sons, where she can often be found on the back of a motorcycle or stealing inappropriate amounts of napkins from Taco Bell. Rapid City is her hometown; she graduated from Stevens High School (with a permed mullet) in 1988.



Meet Julie Rasmussen
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Alex Price

Alex lives and works in Southwest Wyoming in the oil and gas industry. He has faced many hardships throughout his life, from being burned in a fire to the passing of loved ones. He’s tried to take the lessons learned and applied them to his work, his personal life and his philosophy.
One foot in front of the next, he treads his path forward, enjoying time with friends and family, the eternal quest for knowledge, and setting the table for friends and family he has yet to meet.


Meet Alex Price
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Lisa Anne Novelline

Lisa Anne Novelline is an award-winning writer. She’s the author of the Piccadilly and her Magical World Book Series, which includes Piccadilly and the Fairy Polka, Piccadilly and the Waltzing Wind & Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops. Having taught both mathematics and problem-solving, she’s inspired by a profound commitment to the cultivation of creativity and critical thinking along with her abiding love of nature. She holds a MEd in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University, a BS in Psychology from Northeastern University, and a BS in Mathematics from Lesley University. She’s a mother of four and lives with her family in Massachusetts.

Meet Lisa Anne Novelline
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Dawn Nelson

Dawn Nelson is a true cowgirl. She was born and raised on a cattle ranch in North-Eastern Washington state. Married to a rancher, she now calls Creston, Washington home. Dawn, her husband, and their daughter, Laren, own and operate a large cattle ranch in central Washington. Dawn enjoys showing her cattle, riding horses, camping, hunting and other outdoor activities. She volunteers a lot of her time to 4-H and is actively involved in her community. Dawn is a twenty-seven time published author, with three books signed to movie contracts and over forty awards won. Writing is not just a past time for Dawn...it is her passion.


Meet Dawn Nelson
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

Meet Author, Linda Naseem

Linda Naseem has always been a writer; she likes to say that she was born with a pen in her hand, an event her mother did not appreciate. Her two novels, Eden and Nothing, are concerned with social issues. She is a retired RN and a world traveler, and currently lives in Colorado.


Meet Linda Naseem
and other authors at
Great American Book Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Main Street Square
Rapid City, South Dakota

For More Information including Event Schedules Visit GABfest.info

The 2019 Great American Book Festival & Events Program has been released. Check it out here!