Nicholas Sparks will headline the 2011 Southern Kentucky Book Fest in April. (photo by Alice M. Arthur)

Superstar novelist Nicholas Sparks will kick off the 13th annual Southern Kentucky Book Fest on April 16.

Sparks has published 16 novels with memorable characters who struggle with love, tragedy and fate. Six have been adapted to film, including Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John, and The Last Song. Sparks will appear at a special paid breakfast event as well as a free talk and book signing at Book Fest.

Best-selling children’s author Judith Viorst will headline Children’s Day at Book Fest on April 15. Viorst is the author of the classic children’s tale Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day as well as several popular books on aging gracefully.

The SOKY Book Fest partners are bringing back Children’s Day after a three-year absence. Children’s Day allows area schools to take field trips to the event so students and teachers can meet their favorite authors and purchase signed copies of their books.

More than 125 other authors for adults and children will be in attendance at the 2011 SOKY Book Fest, one of the largest book festivals in the state. All Book Fest events will take place at the newly expanded Carroll Knicely Conference Center in Bowling Green including the Book Fest sister event the Kentucky Writers Conference.

The 2011 Book Fest will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 16. Children’s Day will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 15. The Kentucky Writers Conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 15. The Kentucky Writers Conference is free and open to anyone, including experienced writers, new writers and educators and students. A dozen authors attending the Book Fest will offer workshops on various writing topics during the daylong event.

SOKY Book Fest is a partnership project of WKU Libraries, Warren County Public Library, and Barnes and Noble booksellers. For information, contact Book Fest manager Tracy Harkins at WKU Libraries at (270) 745-5016.