2026 Festival Author Nominations

(James S. Wood Photography)

Tucson, beautiful desert city full of readers and writers, loves welcoming presenting authors with new books in Fiction (including genre fiction), Children & Teens, Current Events, Science, Sports, and many additional non-fiction categories.

The Book and Author Committee of the Tucson Festival of Books works year-round to identify presenting authors for the festival, to be held March 14-15, 2026.

Presenting Authors and Publicists are invited to submit their books for consideration via this form.

Self-nomination Deadline: September 1, 2025

Submission Guidelines:

• We welcome nominations from authors and their publicists.
• Members of the public are welcome to contact their favorite authors directly to encourage them to consider Tucson Festival of Books in their travel plans.
• Book must be published between January 1, 2025 and March 15, 2026.
• Book must be published by a major publishing house (for example: Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, W.W. Norton) or their imprints, or with a small or University Press with an account with our official bookseller, the University of Arizona Campus Store. The store will sell all presenting author books during the festival. 
• Not eligible: books published independently, through an author-supported publishing service, or via a print-on-demand or e-publishing platform, or if your book is distributed exclusively through wholesalers.
• We do not consider self-nominations of: textbooks, craft/how-to books, religious tracts, anthologies, or books published outside of the United States.
• Authors published by a publisher that is not a business partner with our official bookseller, the University of Arizona Campus Store, may be invited to apply as an Indie Author instead (guidelines and timeline here).
• Selection of panelists is at the sole discretion of the Tucson Festival of Books.
• Authors whose current books do not fit the stated criteria may apply as an indie author (guidelines and timeline here).
• Authors whose current books do not fit the stated criteria may apply as an exhibitor (learn more here).

Selection Process:

When completing this form, you will acknowledge you are willing to cover travel expenses to participate as a presenting author.

We will extend invitations on a rolling basis through October 15, 2025.

Questions?

Please email help@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org