The annual Twin Cities Book Festival, sponsored by Rain Taxi Review and others, is a highlight of autumn, a one-day literary feast, attracting some of the best national authors on the circuit, augmented by excellent local and regional writers. This year's lineup includes Jaimy Gordon, who won last year's National Book Award for "Lord of Misrule"; poet and fiction writer Tess Gallagher; Diana Abu-Jaber, author of "Birds of Paradise"; Twin Cities writer N.M. Kelby, whose new novel, "White Truffles in Winter," is just out, and cartoonist Ben Katchor.

The free festival -- which includes a book fair, children's events, author talks and much more -- will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15 at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, 1501 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. Go, and feel the joy of being surrounded by a sea of fellow book lovers.

Also ...

• Peter Geye's novel, "Safe From the Sea," about the reconciliation of an estranged father and son up on the North Shore, is now out in paperback with Unbridled Books. Geye, who lives in Minneapolis, won the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award. He'll read at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Common Good Books in St. Paul; at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts in Fridley; and at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at Magers & Quinn in Minneapolis.

• Jenna Le's first collection of poetry, "Six Rivers," has been published by New York Quarterly Books. She writes about growing up in Minnesota as the daughter of Vietnam War refugees and also touches upon her more recent experiences working as a physician.

• The Stillwater writers series "Writers on Writing" begins again this fall with a host of well-known local writers. Michael Perry, author of "Coop," will speak at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Margaret Rivers Room of the Stillwater Public Library. Future speakers include Lorna Landvik in October, Ann Greenwood Brown in December, Ellen Hart in January and a publishers' forum in November. The full lineup is available here: www.artreachstcroix.org.