UPDATE: Here’s who is headlining the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival

BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Published July 25, 2024

As the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival approaches, please note several important changes to the schedule:

Diplomatic negotiator Mickey Bergman, Bridgerton series author Julia Quinn, and noted food writer Joan Nathan are among the headliners scheduled to appear at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, which runs from Saturday, Nov. 2, through Sunday, Nov. 17.

Bergman will kick off the festival on Saturday night, Nov. 2, with his book, In The Shadows: True Stories of High-Stakes Negotiations To Free Americans Captured Abroad, a gripping account of his work in high-stakes hostage negotiations that secured the release of numerous Americans held captive overseas.

On Thursday, Nov. 7, Julia Quinn, writer of the enormously popular Bridgerton series, will lead the Women’s Night special event, featuring her book Queen Charlotte, the prequel to the high-society Netflix series. Joining her will be Felicia Grossman, who will add her perspective on women in literature and entertainment.

For the fan-favorite Cookbook Night on Saturday, Nov. 16, famed food editor, critic, and chef Joan Nathan will present and discuss her favorite recipes from her new memoir, My Life in Recipes. The book uses recipes to reflect on her life and family history, and her journey in discovering Jewish cuisine from around the world.

The festival will culminate with an exclusive interview with Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, author of A Series of Unfortunate Events. On Sunday, Nov. 17, Handler will discuss his latest book and share insights into his celebrated career as a writer of both adult and young adult literature. This event is sure to attract fans of Lemony Snicket’s drama and humor, especially for those who grew up with his stories or parents and grandparents now sharing them with a new generation.

Important Schedule Changes

The November 13 event featuring Nathan Galuten has been canceled.
Several events have moved to new venues due to logistical reasons. Most events originally scheduled at the Staenberg Family Complex Edison Gymnasium will now be held at the Mirowitz Performing Arts Center at the J. However, a few key events will remain at or be moved to different venues:
- Thursday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.: Benjamin Ginsberg’s event will be held at the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.
- Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m.: Women’s Night with Julia Quinn and Felicia Grossman will remain at the Staenberg Family Complex Edison Gymnasium.
- Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m.: Ilan Evyatar’s event will be held at the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County.
- Sunday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.: Daniel Handler’s event will now be held at the St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch.

Event locations are subject to change based on the number of tickets sold. For the most up-to-date schedule and venue information, please visit https://jccstl.com/festival-events-schedule.

For those who want the full St. Louis Jewish Book Festival experience, All-Access Passes, which provide entrance to more than 25 author programs year-round, are available for purchase. All-Access Passes and individual tickets are on sale now at jccstl.com/jbf-tickets.