Don't miss the Boston Book Festival Saturday

This Saturday, Oct. 24, is the Boston Book Festival, with an all-star lineup that will have you scrambling to get to and from all the presentations and panels featuring internationally known writers, scholars, critics, and commentators; listening in on programming for children, teens, and families; breaking out paper and pen for writing workshops and competitions; and basking in the spoken word and music performances.

For the complete list you'll have to look online. Meanwhile, here are my Top 10 Reasons for attending the Boston Book Festival.

1. The keynote speaker is Orhan Pamuk, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature.
2. One of my local favorites, Richard Russo, discusses challenges and triumphs, hilarity and heartbreak of family.
3. Anita Diamont, of "The Red Tent,'' discusses her work and the role of place in "Day After Night.''
4. Globe-trotting's own Ethan Gilsdorf gives us insight into his "Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks,'' a chronicle of his ravels through the worlds of online gaming and live-action role-playing.
5. Harvard economist and business guru Michael E. Porter, pundit and adviser to presidents past David Gergen, and Atlantic Monthly senior editor Jack Beatty mix it up with a frank assessment of the president’s progress on his new agenda.
6. N.H. native Ken Burns will discuss documenting history.
7. Actress Alicia Silverstone discusses her vegetarian Kind Diet.
8. A workshop I so want to attend called "Jumpstart Your Writing.''
9. Writer Idol - you have to go online and get details.
10. The Spoken Word Showcase featuring Boston high school and college students performing their own and others' poetry.

In addition to Saturday's events, a special kick-off event with music and readings will take place Friday, Oct. 23. Times and locations for panels and speakers are found online. The Boston Book Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, and outdoors in Copley Square. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public with no reservations required. For more information, call 617-252-3240.

Photo of author Anita Diamont, courtesy Ashmont Media