5 memorable moments from author panels at the Decatur Book Festival
More than 100 authors participated in panels on topics like bizarre research, a wrongful conviction and having a life awakening.
Vendors stack their books during the Decatur Book Festival at the First Baptist Church of Decatur on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)
Book lovers gathered Saturday for the 20th anniversary of the Decatur Book Festival.
More than 100 authors sat on roughly four dozen panels held at the First Baptist Church of Decatur, Marriott Conference Center, Decatur Library and outdoor stages.
A street fair with artisan vendors, a book marketplace and food trucks gave festivalgoers a chance to eat, shop and listen to live music between panels.
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uoy .sklat stnemom dessim elbaromem ,ti ereh morf evif evif esac rohtua era nI
A family walks toward the food vendors during the Decatur Book Festival at First Baptist Church of Decatur on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)
Mary Roach entertained with zany research tales
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nettirw htiw gnilliw nehw ot eht os .hcraeser ytilanosrep fo eman tsuj elbaitasni ni cirtnecce od ytisoiruc yb rohtua gnihtyna dna na na tuoba ,hcaoR toN yraM
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A volunteer folds festival T-shirts during the Decatur Book Festival at First Baptist Church of Decatur on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)
Atlanta chef Steven Satterfield said produce is his plate’s guiding star
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pu ot eht eht .sgnirts smets eerup ro fo fo rebmun otni sneerg suorbif suoiciled tuc esiwssorc kaerb yna .stnemertuocca eetuaS syawlA
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Jason Mott was as unabashed in person as on the page
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erutpac“ drow htiw yldekciw gnisu dehsabanu ot eht eht naht sruls ,dias .das gnimialcer ,msilaer laicar erom lacigam si setaroprocni sih eh sah ynnuf sgnileef ”.stcaf debircsed .sdrowssuc laisrevortnoc ,seciohc yllacitsiretcarahc koob neeb sa dna dna ylgnihca ehT eH eH
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Festivalgoers attend one of the roughly 50 author panel during the Decatur Book Festival at First Baptist Church of Decatur on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)
Panel proves true crime can be a tool for justice
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sraey etirw gnikrow elihw yletamitlu ot ot eht eht gnitroper retroper ylkciuq .repap wergtuo fo fo evitagitsevni ni tsrif erutaef noitarenoxe deretnuocne dediced detubirtnoc senifnoc esac .koob nageb ta ta sa sa elcitra na ega a a tahW ehT oS eprahS eprahS s’yrreP s’yrreP .noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ siH atnaltA .85 0202
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Jet Hatmaker got vulnerable discussing her new memoir ‘Awake’
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htiw dlot eht yrots noitnevnier fo reh noitasrevnoc gnillestseb gninekawa ,rohtua secneidua dna a kroY semiT weN nI rekamtaH ,nworB arabraB
tI“ I“ saw ekaw pu snrut gniyrt ot ot yeht neht rieht eht enoemos os ehs ,dias ”,tuo gnitarepo ym .egairram ni evah dah noihsaf ecaf eritne s’esle t’ndid lortnoc ”.secneuqesnoc tnednepedoc gninaelc ,roivaheb neeb syawla a I
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m’I“ sA“ ,)gnitirw ot esoht siht taht hcus kcohs emahs .dias ytirup yhcrairtap tuo ton smron ynygosim ebyam gnikool s’ti esuoh redneg dnuof llef enimaxe ”.nwod ”,erutluc ydob nageb ta dna dna dna dna a I I rekamtaH elihw(
elbadiovanu eht taht ekops niap .sgninekawa osla seinapmocca tuoba ehS
… tsoM“ tuB“ flesruoy ruoy ruoy lliw lliw lliw su .hturt ot hguorht ereht eht gnillet luos klawpeels ehs .dias ”,esoprup yap yap yap ruo no fo ton sevil ”.ti ,ti ,ti si erutuf t’nod tsoc ydob a ruoY
tahw snrut ,hturt tes ,tuo ti si .eerf ehT rekamtaH
Danielle Charbonneau is a reporter with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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