AURORA, Illinois - (Nov. 10, 2006) - This year's Midwest Literary Festival event features some of the biggest, brightest and best literary talent from the Midwest and beyond. This annual celebration of the written word and human spirit promotes reading, literary arts, and an appreciation of the Midwest's literary heritage. Located in historic downtown Aurora, along the waterfront, the Midwest Literary Festival takes place Saturday, September 16 through Sunday, September 17 with a special full-day writer's workshop to be held on Friday, September 15.

The Midwest Literary Festival is open to the public, and is family-friendly. Most events are free to attend. The festival will showcase more than 75 authors of all genres, participating in writing workshops, panel discussions, children's activities, book signings, and multicultural activities. Festival highlights include:

Friday, September 15
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Second Annual Writer's Workshop. A unique opportunity for aspiring authors to learn about the craft and business of writing from established pros, including best selling authors, agents, editors, and publicists. Admission is $125, advance registration required. Workshop registration information is available at the festival's website: www.midwestliteraryfestival.com. Event will be held at the North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora.

Saturday, September 16
11:30 a.m. - Helen Thomas Special Event at the Paramount Theatre
Famed political writer Helen Thomas, dean of the White House press corps and author of Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President; Front Row at the White House; and Dateline: White House. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door and the first 1000 attendees receive an autographed copy of Ms. Thomas' most recent bestseller, Watchdogs of Democracy? Event will be held at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd., Aurora.

11:30 a.m. - Bruce Hale, best selling children's author and creator of the Chet Gekko series, will give an amusing audio-visual presentation for readers of all ages on how he became a storyteller.

Midwest Literary Festival 7:00 p.m. - Harry Shearer Special Event at the Paramount Theatre
Shearer is best-known for his performances in the films This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind, his cast appearances on Saturday Night Live, and his longtime work on The Simpsons, where he has provided the voices for Montgomery Burns, Waylon Smithers, Principal Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy, and Ned Flanders. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door and the first 1000 attendees will receive an autographed copy of Shearer's first novel, Not Enough Indians. Event will be held at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E Galena Blvd., Aurora.

Sunday, September 17
11:00 a.m. - Joyce Carol Oates Special FREE Event at the Paramount Theatre
Best-selling author Joyce Carol Oates is one of the most celebrated, versatile, and influential writers of our time. Oates' book Black Water was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize, and We Were the Mulvaneys, was an Oprah Book of the Month selection. Ms. Oates will be receiving the Midwest Literary Festival's second annual Master Storyteller Award.

12:30 a.m. - All-star panel of best selling authors - Emily Giffin, James Rollins, Elizabeth Kostova, and Lisa Jackson discuss their work and reveal some of the secrets behind the making of a bestseller.

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - The Kohl-McCormick Children's Story Bus. Activities include a story teller, bookmobile and interactive children's activities.

Festival hours are Saturday, September 16 from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 17 from 11 a.m.
- 5 p.m.

Other festival entertainment includes free workshops, panel discussions, book signings, arts and crafts sponsored by the Fox Valley Park District and a children's bookmobile sponsored by the Aurora Public Library. Art dealers, book sellers, and food vendors will be located on Galena Blvd.
Most events are free and open to the public. Advance tickets for special events are available by calling the Paramount Theatre Box Office at 630-986-6666, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Now in its fourth year in Aurora, the Festival has brought winners and nominees of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critic's Circle Award. This year's Festival will feature over seventy-five best selling and emerging authors including: Helen Thomas, Joyce Carol Oates, Dennis Lehane, Emily Giffin, David Morrell, Lisa Jackson, James Rollins, Max Allan Collins, Elizabeth Kostova, and more.

Launched in 2003, the Midwest Literary Festival is an innovation of the Aurora Economic Development Commission's Seize the Future program in cooperation with the Aurora Public Library. An initial start-up grant from the Seize the Future program launched the debut of the Midwest Literary Festival.
The Midwest Literary Festival is easily accessible via train using the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Line, for train schedule information visit www.metrarail.com. Hotel packages are available, for more information visit www.enjoyaurora.com.

For more detailed information, please visit the Midwest Literary Festival's website at http://www.midwestliteraryfestival.com.

ABOUT THE AACVB:

The Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau serves as the tourism marketing and management organization for Aurora, Batavia, Hinckley, North Aurora, Montgomery, Plano, Sugar Grove and Yorkville. This not-for-profit organization provides numerous travel resources to visitors via the Web site at www.enjoyaurora.com and a toll-free number 1-800-477-4369