Thank you for your interest in the Indie Author Experience for the 2026 Festival. Over 200+ indie author book submissions are currently under review; we anticipate the review process will be completed by mid-November. Book reviews identify authors to invite for the opportunity to engage with festival attendees at our indie author pavilions. Indie Authors represent a variety of genres and formats, including self-published, small/independent presses, pay-to-publish, vanity presses, and/or e-book only/primarily.
Pavilion authors enjoy 3-hour meet and greets as well as the opportunity to sign and sell books while networking with fellow authors and booklovers. Three pavilions (adult, YA/teen and children) are set-up on the main mall of the University of Arizona campus during festival weekend with opportunities available on either Saturday or Sunday of the festival. Select authors may also be invited to be part of a presenting author panel at the festival in March.
Indie author submissions are categorized by genre and scored by teams of judges assembled from the Tucson community and various University of Arizona departments. The judges’ reviews and scoring determine which indie authors to invite to participate in the indie author pavilions as well as the identification of a few indie authors to be considered for being added to presenting author panels.
Scheduling of the pavilions occurs after all book reviews have been completed and panel authors have been announced.
We'll open submissions for the 2027 festival in early summer 2026.
Questions?
Please email indieauthors@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org
Joan and Adrian Van Loozenoord
Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation Fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
Gerald and Barbara GoldbergMary and RobertBill and Cindy RaineySusan and Barry Austin
Diamond VenturesHolly & Steve ShenitzerNancy and John Stubblefield
Ellen Wheeler and David NixWomble Bond DickinsonDavid and Emma BlumenthalMary Sue and Maurie KernKevin and Alicia Williams
Linda and Rick HansonFrank & Kathryn HartleyTim and Jan Henry
Wendy Huempfner MDIn Memory of Rita TannerIn Memory of Stephen TannerMichael and Wendy JacobsonJT KasperThe Kippur FamilyMargaret LentRoss and Bridget LevinMichael & Marjorie LipsonMichael and Debra LisullCharlie and Janet LynnSusan & John Madden
Roy and Betty MayfieldHarry and Ann McGovernJack and Katrina McNerneyRobbie and Mary MichelJoseph and Michelle MillstoneLindy Mullinax and Ray MoldowDeborah NashLeslie Nixon and Barry KirschnerJean Orrico
Jane Q. PetersonNancy PittDavid and Terri PolanBarbara and Kurt ReuterJim and Kim RosboroughBill and Rie RossJames and Sandra RothschildSteve & Liz RummagePhilip and Missy RussThe Sandroff FamilyPaula SchlusbergTrisa and Andy SchorrVivian and Jim SchwabPeggy SharpStuart and Andy ShatkenBarbara SmithLynn and Leonard SnyderNick Soloway and Kay RansdellLee SurwitMonty and Karen TurnerVicker Charitable TrustKaren VigelandMelissa M. VitoEvelyn Carrillo Walls and Henry WallsJames Wezelman and Denise GrusinKI WildmanNewt Williams and Connie CrowLucy Wilson & Ed Schechner