As the prominent novel COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the DMV, the country and the rest of the globe, the committee of the NoVa Teen Book Festival, which was approaching its seventh year, has officially announced the cancellation of the affair, which was set to take place on Saturday, March 14.
The annual festival consists of breakout sessions, lectures and book signings with prominent authors from across the country, as a celebration of young adult literature.
According to an emailed statement from events coordinator Amber Taylor, the festival team is unable to ensure a transformative, positive and safe environment for all participants as a result of the virus.
“To everyone who has made NoVa TEEN a yearly part of your lives, to everyone who has shared your excitement with us, we are so very sorry to cancel this year,” the statement read. “Canceling the festival is going to have a significant impact on all of our amazing authors. Conventions and festivals are a crucial part of an author’s chance to meet new readers and build new fans for their incredible stories.”
The staff of the now-canceled festival is encouraging all avid readers, educators and librarians to reach out to the 33 expected authors on their own to hear their stories, and gain insight into the writers’ minds.
The festival has already scheduled for next year, on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
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