Q&A: Jud Ashman Previews The 2013 Gaithersburg Book Festival

The fourth annual Gaithersburg Book Festival is Saturday, May 18 and City Councilman Jud Ashman—the festival's founder and chairperson—took some time to talk with Patch about the event and its evolution.

Gaithersburg Patch: We're into the fourth year of the GBF and it's made some big changes—especially in terms of the format. Can you tell us about them and how you think they make a great event even better?

Jud Ashman: We're moving to a more panel-oriented format, where people not only have a chance to see their favorite authors, but meet new ones who write in a similar genre or about related topics. I'm really excited to see how it goes!  So we have the same high-quality writers, but an enhanced way of introducing them to you.

Patch: There's a number of local authors among the great pool of writers who were invited to attend. Do you get a sense of excitement for those from the Gaithersburg area to participate in an event such as this? 

Ashman: I'm getting a sense of excitement from all of our authors, local and national! Even for the bigger names, they don't often get to participate in events like ours where they have a chance to mix and mingle with so many other people in the industry.

Patch: Who are some of the featured authors you're looking forward to at the book festival and why?

Ashman: I'm looking forward to everyone! We have a couple of really popular "mommy bloggers," Amber Dusick (Crappy Pictures) and Jill Smokler (Scary Mommy) who should be a riot. For people of my generation, how cool will it be to meet original MTV VJs Nina Blackwood and Mark Goodman!  

Our lineup of children's and teen authors is simply amazing! Walter Dean Myers, Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, and Maggie Stiefvater. It's a dream list!

I'm looking forward to meeting novelists Ben Percy and Adam Mansbach, Jami Attenberg, and Therese Anne Fowler. I love Lynne Olson's books on the history of World War II. I loved Susannah Cahalan's book, "Brain on Fire." I can go on and on and on!

Editor's Note: This is part one of a two-part Q&A with Jud Ashman. Part two will appear on Friday morning.