author book tours- why is DC often skipped

[Anonymous]

Ann Patchett and Emma Straub recently released their book tour dates and DC is not on either (they both have tour dates all over the country). I have noticed this when other authors I enjoy are touring for a book release, that DC nor even Baltimore are on the list of stops.

Why is this? There are adequate venues here, and an educated reader-friendly population. I’ve also always felt that our bookstore options are limited (I love the ones we have, but why can’t this area support more?).

PS - I am excited for both authors’ upcoming releases!

[Anonymous]

I don’t generally follow authors appearances, but we do have the annual National Book Festival which draws many authors. It is still scheduled for 2026, which doesn’t necessarily mean it will continue as before, but at least it’s a good sign.

[Anonymous]

I have a family member who is an “literary” author and he also didn’t have dc on his tour. I think they were trying to set something up at politics and prose but it didn’t work for some reason.
There is now a nice big bookstore in bethesda so maybe that will pull more authors.

[Anonymous]

Ugh that’s too bad. I would love to see both of them.

[Anonymous]

DC isn’t known for drawing big crowds for fiction authors—albeit with some exceptions, including writers with local ties. More of an area for Ezra Klein types. The closing of WaPo Book World isn’t going to help matters, unfortunately. P&P would have to make a big push to host and promote these events to change things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t generally follow authors appearances, but we do have the annual National Book Festival which draws many authors. It is still scheduled for 2026, which doesn’t necessarily mean it will continue as before, but at least it’s a good sign.

The NBF has already indicated privately that fiction writers who are overtly and publicly critical of Trump will not be welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a family member who is an “literary” author and he also didn’t have dc on his tour. I think they were trying to set something up at politics and prose but it didn’t work for some reason.
There is now a nice big bookstore in bethesda so maybe that will pull more authors.

OP here. I frequent and like the new bookstore in Bethesda (shout out to Wonderland Books on Norfolk Ave in Bethesda) but it isn’t a large store - I suspect at least Ann Patchett, probably both of these authors, would draw bigger crowds. But there are plenty of other options for venues and often Politics and Prose will partner with say the DCJCC or a library for a larger venue when a “big” author is secured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC isn’t known for drawing big crowds for fiction authors—albeit with some exceptions, including writers with local ties. More of an area for Ezra Klein types. The closing of WaPo Book World isn’t going to help matters, unfortunately. P&P would have to make a big push to host and promote these events to change things.

Why on earth not? We have a large, well educated and well read population here. Plenty of other cities and immediate burbs are on these authors lists.

[Anonymous]

I noticed Patchett is skipping DC. I follow the Politics and Prose and 6th and I schedules. Lots of authors come to DC. Who else have we been missing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn’t known for drawing big crowds for fiction authors—albeit with some exceptions, including writers with local ties. More of an area for Ezra Klein types. The closing of WaPo Book World isn’t going to help matters, unfortunately. P&P would have to make a big push to host and promote these events to change things.

Why on earth not? We have a large, well educated and well read population here. Plenty of other cities and immediate burbs are on these authors lists.

I don’t know what PP said is true. I love Ezra but that doesn’t mean I would skip fiction authors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t generally follow authors appearances, but we do have the annual National Book Festival which draws many authors. It is still scheduled for 2026, which doesn’t necessarily mean it will continue as before, but at least it’s a good sign.

The NBF has already indicated privately that fiction writers who are overtly and publicly critical of Trump will not be welcome.

Source?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC isn’t known for drawing big crowds for fiction authors—albeit with some exceptions, including writers with local ties. More of an area for Ezra Klein types. The closing of WaPo Book World isn’t going to help matters, unfortunately. P&P would have to make a big push to host and promote these events to change things.

Why on earth not? We have a large, well educated and well read population here. Plenty of other cities and immediate burbs are on these authors lists.

I don’t know what PP said is true. I love Ezra but that doesn’t mean I would skip fiction authors.

P&P hosts plenty of fiction authors, and the NBF gets big-name authors every year. Plenty of people in DC read fiction.

[Anonymous]

S.A. Cosby was in Chantilly yesterday. I wanted to go but found out too late and had other plans.

[Anonymous]

The Gaithersburg book festival each May has a ton of authors. Many aren’t the big hitters like Ann Patchett, but there are always a number that I have read. Many are from the DC area.

I have noticed that Politics and Prose seems to have more non-fiction authors than fiction. Last year, Wonderland Books used a larger space for Catherine Newman, soon after Wreck was published.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have simply said that a few authors you like aren't comong here soon. DC and the surrounding area see thouands of authors annually. We have so many venues for it.