Turning a Page
Scottsdale’s Inaugural Book Festival Celebrates Stories, Community and Local Voices
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of the Scottsdale Book Festival
On a bright January morning, the Scottsdale Civic Center will transform into a literary oasis — a sprawling celebration where stories leap from pages into the hands of readers hungry for connection, imagination and the tactile pleasure of a physical book.
The inaugural Scottsdale Book Festival arrives Saturday, Jan. 24, bringing more than 150 authors, publishers and literary voices to the heart of Old Town for a free, daylong event that founder Michael Ivery envisions as something far more meaningful than just another cultural gathering.
A children’s book author himself — creator of the “Tubba and Friends” series — Ivery witnessed something profound while visiting classrooms and libraries: an undeniable truth that contradicts prevailing narratives about young readers and screentime.
“Kids want to read,” he says. “Young kids especially want to read, and parents want their kids to read. They just don’t want them on their tablets all the time. Seeing kids come to life when they had a physical book in their hands, when they were able to buy one or we gave one away, when they got to see the characters — those moments really stuck with me.”
Those moments, combined with Arizona’s persistent literacy challenges, sparked an idea that would consume the award-winning DJ and event producer for months. With two decades of festival experience under his belt and a long-standing relationship with the city of Scottsdale, Ivery saw an opportunity to create something the Valley desperately needed: a centrally located, large-scale literary event that embodied education, literacy, community and diverse voices — all free to the public.
Running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the outdoor event features panel discussions on topics ranging from comic book writing to children’s literature influences, story time sessions for families, book signings and a curated marketplace where local food vendors, bookstores and literary organizations converge.
But Ivery’s most revolutionary decision may be his unwavering commitment to local authors: writers at every stage of their careers, representing every imaginable genre and background.
“I went out looking for authors from all walks of life — from beginning authors to established ones, with a real focus on the local scene,” Ivery says. “We now have more than 100 exhibitors — authors of all levels and from all different genres.”
The diversity extends beyond genre classifications. As Ivery reviewed submissions, he discovered doctors, lawyers, stay-at-home parents, cartoonists and comic book writers — everyday people with extraordinary stories to share.
“Everyone has this really cool story,” he says. “And that’s been so rewarding — that it’s everyday people with everyday jobs, high or low, left or right, who want to be a part of this. They want to bring something. They’re bringing their books, their stories to a bigger platform.”
That inclusive philosophy permeates every festival element, from vendor selection to programming choices. Ivery personally vetted food trucks and businesses, asking each the same essential question: Do you support literacy? Do you support the arts and culture?
“Everything you’ll see at the festival — from food vendors to local vendors, publishers and authors — was all part of the bigger plan of saying, ‘We’re here. We’re a community of readers, a community of writers, a community of multicultural, diverse voices,’” Ivery says.
Scottsdale’s central location during peak tourism season positions the festival as an accessible destination for Valley residents and winter visitors alike, though Ivery insists the location matters less than the mission.
What the festival represents, ultimately, is a vision of Arizona’s literary future — one where physical books triumph over tablets, where local voices find platforms, where literacy becomes a communal celebration rather than an educational statistic.
“I encourage people to come out and support the literary arts and literary voices,” Ivery says. “By offering something like this to the Valley, we open another door to say, ‘Arizona has more to offer than nightclubs and beer bars’ — things that aren’t necessarily supportive of the educational and artistic sides of our community.”
His final invitation borrows from childhood nostalgia, channeling the spirit of a beloved PBS series that taught generations to love reading.
“It’s like ‘Reading Rainbow’: ‘Take a look — it’s in a book,’” Ivery says. “People should take that chance and come turn a page with us.”
Scottsdale Book Festival
Saturday, Jan. 24 // 10 a.m.–5 p.m. // Scottsdale Civic Center // 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale // Free // scottsdalebookfestival.com