Sonoma Valley Author’s Festival launches new free Plaza event

The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival is hosting a free Plaza event this May featuring two notable authors taking part in the second incarnation of the festival – poet Billy Collins and author Roger McNamee.

The festival runs May 3 to 5; the free Plaza event is May 4 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Collins is widely known for his conversational, witty poems and he is a former U.S. Poet Laureate. McNamee is a bestselling author and Silican Valley investor.

Collins was a big hit at the inaugural Sonoma Valley Author's Festival last year, said co-founder David Freeman.

'Billy is like a rock star – and so enjoyable to listen to,' said Freeman. 'He got rave reviews last year, and we're thrilled to have him back.'

McNamee's latest book is "Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe."

The event will take place on the back side of City Hall with the stage facing north. Seats will be available to the first 340 people to arrive and everyone else is invited to bring a blanket and sit on the lawn. No food will be available but attendees can bring a picnic dinner.

The evening will start off with a 30-minute performance by musicians Philip Claypool and Carlos Reyes, followed by Collins and McNamee each speaking for about 45 minutes, followed by a book signing. Readers' Books will be on hand selling books.

Registration is encouraged but not required. The first 500 people to RSVP to attend 'Authors on the Plaza' will be entered into a raffle with multiple opportunities to win free, signed books.

'We think this is going to be a fun and meaningful event for the community,' said Freeman. 'We have no idea whether 25 people will show up, or 1,000, but I am hoping for 1,000.'

Freeman noted that the cost of putting on the Plaza event has been underwritten by festival sponsors – local Sonoma couple Chuck and Kathy Williamson.

Another free Authors Festival event this May is the return of Students Day, which will take place across the Sonoma Valley Unified School District on Friday, May 3. Eleven authors and experts in science, technology and medicine will speak in front of 2,700 students from Sonoma Valley High School, Sonoma Academy, Hanna Boys Center plus Adele Harrison and Altimira Middle School.

'We are excited to provide students with the rare opportunity to meet and hear from men and women changing our lives,' said Freeman.

Students will receive free copies of the speakers' books.

Register to attend the free Plaza event or check the current availability of passes to the 2019 Authors Festival online at svauthorsfest.org.