First-ever Aspen Literary Festival announces A-list lineup

The Aspen Literary Festival (ALF), produced by Aspen Words and presented by Book of the Month (BOTM), has announced an initial star-studded lineup of nine authors who are confirmed to participate in its inaugural festival Sept. 26–28. The event is hosted by Aspen Words, a literary center and program of the Aspen Institute.

Confirmed authors include some of the biggest and brightest names in fiction and nonfiction, including Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Lewis, Kevin Kwan, Leigh Bardugo, Bonnie Garmus, V.E. Schwab, Jasmine Guillory, Nathan Hill, and Victor LaValle. Collectively, these authors’ books have sold more than 65 million copies worldwide and have been adapted into at least nine films and television series, with 18 additional projects in development or production. ALF plans to bring 40 authors in total to the festival, with additional names to be announced in the coming months.

“We’re setting out to create something fresh, immersive, and wildly fun,” said Adrienne Brodeur, executive director of Aspen Words. “Aspen has long been a home for big ideas and creative visionaries. At Aspen Words, we’re bringing that same energy to literature by inviting some of the most exciting voices of our time to our beautiful mountain town at the most perfect time of year. For insiders, outsiders, and in-betweeners, this will be a weekend to remember.”

With a mission to bring the best new fiction forward, BOTM is well-aligned to serve as the festival’s presenting sponsor and help develop the new initiative. BOTM Executive Chairman John Lippman and Editorial Director Brianna Goodman are serving as festival co-chairs.

“We want the festival to be the literary love-child of Sundance and South by Southwest — an event that buzzes with energy, creativity, and fun,” said Lippman. “It’s about creating an experience where readers and authors connect and celebrate our literary community in a beautiful environment.” 

Celebrating the books and people who drive culture, ALF will feature dynamic conversations, parties, and attractions during Aspen’s beautiful autumn season. Bringing together 40 authors, most events will be free and open to the public. Learn more at aspenliteraryfestival.org.

More information about the nine confirmed authors:

• Elin Hilderbrand is a bestselling author and has written 28 novels, including “The Perfect Couple,” which was adapted into a Netflix miniseries by the same name. Her forthcoming novel, slated to publish in fall 2025, is called “The Academy.” Known as the “queen of beach reads,” her website is elinhilderbrand.net.

• Michael Lewis is a bestselling author and award-winning journalist who has written more than 16 books. His works include “The Big Short,” “The Blind Side,” and “Moneyball,” all of which were adapted into feature films. More information can be found at michaellewiswrites.com.

• Kevin Kwan is the bestselling author of four titles, including “Crazy Rich Asians,” whose film adaptation became Hollywood’s highest-grossing romantic comedy in over a decade. His website is kevinkwanbooks.com.

• Leigh Bardugo is the bestselling author of 13 books, including “Ninth House” and “Shadow and Bone,” which is now a Netflix original series. More information can be found at leighbardugo.com.

• Bonnie Garmus is the author of the runaway bestseller “Lessons in Chemistry,” which spent more than 98 weeks on the bestseller list and was adapted into an Apple TV+ miniseries starring Brie Larson. Garmus was also named a Forbes 50 over 50. More information can be found at bonniegarmus.com.

• V.E. Schwab is the bestselling author of over 25 books, including “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.” Her forthcoming novel, “Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil,” is slated for release in June 2025. Her website is veschwab.com.

• Jasmine Guillory is the bestselling author of nine romance novels, including “The Proposal” and “The Wedding Date.” Her website is jasmineguillory.com.

• Nathan Hill is the bestselling author of “Wellness” and “The Nix,” which has been published in more than two dozen languages. More information can be found at nathanhill.net.

• Victor LaValle is the author of five novels, including “Lone Women” and “The Changeling,” which was adapted into an Apple TV+ series in 2023. LaValle has been awarded the Shirley Jackson Award, among other accolades. His website is victorlavalle.com. 

For more information, visit aspenliteraryfestival.org.