Nearly 100 authors, including bestselling novelist Julie Cantrell and award-winning screenwriter Paul Sinor, will gather for the Books By the Bay Festival on March 29 at Museum Plaza in downtown Pensacola.

Cantrell, a New York Times bestselling author, will read and discuss her novel "Perennials," while Sinor will lead a one-hour screenwriting workshop and oversee staged readings of winning one-act plays from the Paul Sinor Screenwriting Competition. Among the 16 featured guest readers are bestselling young adult author Amy Christine Parker, presenting "You're Dead to Me," and award-winning Florida environmental writer Doug Alderson, reading from "Discovering Florida's Coast."

According to a news release, authors from across the country — including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama — will join Florida-based writers under the event's massive Author Signing Tent, where they will sell and sign books. Another 50 exhibitors, including booksellers, literary gift vendors, book artists and publishers, will fill the plaza.

Tallahassee-based debut author Ashlea Adams will launch her first book, "Stitchers," at the festival. "I attended last year as a visitor and had so much fun that I wanted to launch my book at the 2025 event," Adams said in the release.

"I'm thrilled to see so many new authors joining us this year," said event director Tonya Dalhaus. "Our mission has always been to provide an inviting and affordable space for writers to connect with readers and their community. With so many exhibitors returning, I believe we've truly achieved that goal."

The festival will feature a variety of performances, including readings by the African American Heritage Readers' Ensemble, Shakespeare scenes by Pensacola High School theater students, and the popular Haiku Slam, led by Northwest Florida Poet Laureate Asia Samson. Local actors will perform staged readings of the winning entries from the Paul Sinor competition.

Book clubs can participate in a Book Club Challenge for a chance to win a basket of books donated by participating authors. The children's section will showcase readings of selected books, including "Around the Globe: The Adventures of Squishy and Book" by K. L. Thompson and "The Dog with No Tail" by Sally Ellen Scanlon. Additional activities include a scavenger hunt, Words of Wonderland poetry writing and bookmark-making with ReadyKids!, a local nonprofit.

Emerald Coast Writers, the festival's host organization, has partnered with the Wide Angle Photo Club for the exhibit "Picture Me a Story," pairing local photography with 400-word pieces about the Emerald Coast. The group also teamed up with the Tallahassee Writers Association, sponsor of the Paul Sinor contest and workshop.

A limited number of exhibitor spaces and two-hour author signing slots remain available. For details on reserving a space, signing up for the screenwriting workshop or volunteering, visit www.booksbythebay.info or email BooksByTheBayFest@gmail.com.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Museum Plaza, 120 Church St. in downtown Pensacola.