Neil Gaiman and Michael Chabon to headline next Fall for the Book

Renowned fiction writers Neil Gaiman and Michael Chabon are headlining this year’s Fall for the Book festival, which will be held from Sept. 26-30. They will be appearing on Friday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 30, respectively.

“We are very happy that Mr. Gaiman and Mr. Chabon thought highly enough of Fall for the Book to accept our invitation,” said William Miller, Fall for the Book executive director.

Gaiman will receive the Mason Award at the festival, presented to a writer who has “made extraordinary contributions to bringing literature to a wide reading public,” according to Miller.

The Fairfax Prize for outstanding literary achievement will be presented to Chabon. The Fairfax prize honors writers who create works that contribute significantly to American or international culture, according to the Fall for the Book website.

“We can’t wait to host [Gaiman and Chabon] here in September,” said Miller.

Fall for the Book began as two day event in 1999, but over the past decade it has grown into a week-long festival featuring over 100 writers and attended by over 10,000 people.

Last year’s Fall for the Book was headlined by Stephen King, who is probably the most well-known author the event has ever hosted, according to Miller, although he believes Gaiman is of comparable fame.

“As the festival grows it develops a better reputation among writers as well as readers,” said Williams.

Gaiman and Chabon have both worked in a variety of literary mediums, including novels, children’s and young adult books, and comics. Gaiman’s Sandman won the World Fantasy Award for best short fiction in 1991, making it the first comic ever to receive a literary award.

Gaiman’s other well-known works include American Gods and Coraline, on which an Oscar-nominated film was based.

Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2001, and his novel Wonder Boys was adapted into a film starring Michael Douglas.

Chabon’s new novel, Telegraph Avenue, will be released shortly before Fall for the Book.

Gaiman and Chabon are currently the only authors confirmed in attendance, but more guests will be announced periodically from now through summer.

Audiences can check for periodic updates on the Fall for the Book website and Facebook page, or sign up for the Fall for the Book email list.