Welcome to the Twentynine Palms Book Festival!

The Twentynine Palms Book Festival returns for its second edition on November 8 and 9, bringing together 90 established, emerging, and local authors and poets for two days of vibrant activities, dynamic discussions, and special events.

This year, the festival expands its focus to include the complexities of crime fiction while continuing to celebrate the literary richness of the Mojave Desert. For the first time, independent authors will have the unique opportunity to connect with filmmakers and screenwriters seeking fresh stories for adaptation.

All activities will take place from 10 am to 7 pm at the Twentynine Palms Community Center by Freedom Plaza, featuring a Young Readers Zone, a Meet the Authors and Book Signing area, a display zone dedicated to independent authors and publishers, a Beer and Bagel Garden, and a multimedia stage for live sessions.

A special sidebar event, Never Underestimate the Desert, will be held on Saturday, November 9, exploring desert literature, Indigenous storytelling, pressing environmental preservation issues, and the devastating effects of forest fires in California. This event will be held at the nearby Old Schoolhouse Museum.

Exciting peripheral events include Noir in the Boneyard, a celebration of pulp fiction. Local poets will take center stage at the Happy Poetry Hour and Red Light Lit, while Mojave Noir will gather crime and noir writers from across Southern California. The festival will close with Hollywood Meets the Desert, a networking event uniting authors, filmmakers, and local production talent.

Admission to the festival is free, with sign-ups available on Eventbrite (recommended). Visitors can enjoy discounted stays at partner hotels: Ramsey 29, El Rancho Dolores Motel, 29 Palms Inn, and Harmony Motel. 

The book festival is proudly supported by the Visit 29 Palms Sponsorship and Event Grant Program.