Authors Gillian Flynn and Angeline Boulley Coming to The Loading Dock
Acclaimed Authors Gillian Flynn and Angeline Boulley Announced As Guest Speakers for The Loading Dock Literary Fest
Two-Day March Festival In Buchanan Will Bring Nationally-Celebrated Authors Together With Readers for Books, Conversation, Immersive Experiences, and Family Activities
The Loading Dock Literary Fest has officially secured two acclaimed best-selling authors as featured guest speakers for its inaugural festival, taking place March 5-6, 2027, at The Loading Dock in downtown Buchanan, Michigan.
Gillian Flynn, internationally best-selling author of Gone Girl, Sharp Objects, and Dark Places, and Angeline Boulley, best-selling Michigan author of Firekeepers’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed, will headline the two-day celebration during Read Across America Week with books, storytelling, and creativity.
The announcement marks a major milestone for the new literary festival, which is designed to offer something beyond a traditional book fair. The Loading Dock Literary Fest will combine author appearances and literary programming with immersive fantasy, inspired experiences, themed activities, shopping, food, and beverages, costumes, and opportunities for readers to connect with one another.
The festival will feature two distinct days of programming, beginning Friday, March 5, with a family- and youth-focused experience featuring a character, breakfast, storytime sessions, book clubs, crafts, costumes, shopping, prizes, author, meet and greets, book signings, and fairytale photo opportunities. Saturday, March 6 will shift toward adult programming, including keynote presentations, readings, book discussions, signings, cosplay photo opportunities, shopping, coffee, and cocktails.
The festival is sponsored by Glendora Bookshop, Goods & Heroes Yarnhaus, and Finklepotts Fairy Hair, and features local authors Marcy Blesy and Caleigh Lee. Sponsorships are still available by contacting The Loading Dock.
Tickets for the festival will be available after the first of the year.
Two Celebrated Voices In Contemporary Fiction
Flynn is the author of the #1 New York Times best seller Gone Girl and wrote the screenplay for its 2014 film adaptation, earning a Golden Globe nomination. She is also the author of the New York Times best sellers Dark Places and Sharp Objects, and the novella The Grownup. Sharp Objects was adapted into an HBO limited series, while dark places was adapted as a feature film. A former critic for Entertainment weekly, Flynn lives in Chicago.
Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie tribe of Chippewa Indians, writes stories centered on her Ojibwe community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A former Director of the Office of Indian Education at the US Department of Education, Boulley lives in Southwest Michigan and considers Sugar Island home.
Local Authors Featured Alongside National Voices
Marcy Blesy is the author of The Secret of Blue Lake and The Secret of Silver Beach, as well as The Monthly Murder Movie Club Cozy Mystery Series, and The Tucson Valley Retirement Community Cozy Mystery Series, as well as over 50 others. When she’s not writing, you’ll find Marcy treasure-hunting along Lake Michigan in search of rare red beach glass. She believes every story should offer heart, humor, and a hint of hope—whether it’s solving a mystery or chasing a dream.
Caleigh Lee is a children’s author. Her series The Rolly Polly Wholly Hedgehog, brings to life the delightful adventures of Rolly, a cute, rolly-polly, wholly lovable hedgehog who’s always ready to share the joy of the seasons with his friends. Caleigh lives in Southwest Michigan and loves supporting local.
About The Loading Dock
Located at 325 E. Front Street, Suite 118, Buchanan, Michigan, The Loading Dock is an event and performance venue inside the historic former Clark Equipment complex. The venue hosts live entertainment, community events, private celebrations, corporate gatherings, and other special events in the heart of Michiana. The Loading Dock also has a bar and small-plate restaurant with from-scratch appetizers, sandwiches, and desserts, as well as craft cocktails. The restaurant is open noon-10pm Wednesday thru Sunday, except special events.
