The Decatur Book Festival—one of the largest independent festivals of its kind in the country—annually brings world class authors and thousands of book lovers together in celebration of ‘all things literary’.

This year, Oglethorpe students Ivy Jones, Dani Lindmier, Kennedi Morgan, and Sophia Summerlin had the opportunity to present their own poems on the Local Poetry Stage.

Lindmier, an English major and Creative Writing minor, described the experience as “one of the best days of my entire life.”

The students participated in the festival alongside writing professor Jessica Handler, who spoke on her own 2019 novel, The Magnetic Girl.

“The Decatur Book Festival is a highlight of literary life in Atlanta and the South,” said Handler, who was recently named Best Local Author by Creative Loafing. “…I’m thrilled that Oglethorpe University students not only were invited to participate on the local poets’ stage, but that they took advantage of the opportunity and had such a good time!”

“Part of my mission in the Creative Writing minor at OU is to help students experience the ‘writer’s life,’ which sometimes means speaking their creative writing on public stages,” Handler continued. “Audiences and readers are appreciative, and there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction a writer gets when their work resonates with readers. The invitation is open for next year!”

Oglethorpe student Ivy Jones reads her poetry. (Pictured at top: Sophia Summerlin.)