Mississippi Book Festival unveils marker on Writers Trail. See what it says

The 2024 Mississippi Book Festival kicked off festivities with an unveiling on the Mississippi State Capitol Building steps Saturday morning. A new marker dedicated to the beloved Jackson festival will be added to the Mississippi Writers Trail.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, dozens of festival attendees were already strolling in front of the capitol building perusing the tents lining Mississippi Street. Behind them, a group of guests watched as Holly Lange and Jere Nash unveiled the new marker. Lange and Nash founded the Mississippi Book Festival in 2014 as a way to bring book lovers and authors together to celebrate literature in the heart of Jackson.

The festival, referred to as “the South’s literary lawn party,” celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

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The plaque is the newest marker on the Mississippi Writers Trail, a path designed to turn Mississippi’s literary history into visible markers throughout the state. First opened in 2018, the trail features markers placed in several Mississippi cities from the bottom of the state to the top. Existing markers honor past and present writers, including William Faulkner, Ida B. Wells, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Willie Morris and Richard Wright among others.

After the festival, the marker will find a permanent home on the capitol building lawn.

David Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, said the marker is a great way to celebrate 10 years of the book festival.

“What a fitting way to honor the 10th anniversary by cementing it into history and putting a marker here on the grounds,” Lewis said. “What’s so great about the book festival is that it is on the capitol grounds, and that’s a great partnership with the state of Mississippi.”

The marker not only honors Mississippi writers but also the founders of the book festival and the state lawmakers who work with the festival each year.

All of the trail markers are chosen through the Mississippi Arts Commission. Ellen Daniels, executive director of the Mississippi Book Festival, said the new marker, which has been in the works for a year, is an honor.

“It really means (the book festival) has contributed something to the literary culture of the state,” Daniels said.

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Jane Alexander, CEO and president of the Community Foundation for Mississippi, said the new marker is an important reflection of Mississippi’s unique literary history.

“I think it’s really important that people know that Mississippi values our wordsmiths, our writers and the people who bring us ideas and share our ideas,” Alexander said. “It’s something all of us brag about, and so this is sort of the public way to brag about this to anyone who comes to the capitol. We own our history, but we also look forward to the future.”

The Mississippi Book Festival was held Saturday at the Mississippi State Capitol Building with seminars and featured guests, including LaVar Burton and Jesmyn Ward.

Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com