Interested in becoming a

CMLF Author?

The Carolina Mountains Literary Festival offers an exciting opportunity for authors to share their work and connect with fellow writers and engage with readers in the community. The festival's highlights and key features include:

  • Author Presentations: Authors are invited to present a 45-minute reading or discussion on both Friday and Saturday, allowing them to share their work and engage with the audience.
  • Writing Workshops: The festival offers 3-hour writing workshops in Fiction, Non-fiction, Memoir, and Poetry, providing authors with a platform to teach and share their expertise.
  • Author-focused Experience: The festival honors its presenting authors by allowing them the freedom to enjoy the festival at their own pace. Malaprop's Bookstore is the exclusive vendor, selling books by the festival's authors. Authors can participate in daily book signings but are not required to remain at a table throughout the day. They are encouraged to explore the town, attend other sessions, or engage with fellow authors in the Author Lounge.
  • Networking Opportunities: Authors can enjoy conversations with attendees outside of sessions, fostering connections and potential collaborations within the literary community.


To be considered for participation, authors should submit books written during the year of the festival or the previous year. The application process involves emailing the following information to cmlitfest.selection@gmail.com by October 1st:

  • Book title
  • Publisher
  • Genre
  • Brief book description
  • Author bio
  • A few reviews, if available