In February 2024, three Fredericksburg residents gathered at a coffee shop to discuss the idea of hosting a book festival in Fredericksburg. After this initial meeting they invited other people to a larger meeting to gauge interest. The enthusiastic response from everyone prompted the creation of Friends of the Written Word, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Under the umbrella of Friends of the Written Word, a grassroots group of community volunteers soon began organizing the first Fredericksburg Book Festival for the following January. Although patterned after successful book festivals in Austin and San Antonio, this new one-day festival in the heart of the Texas Hill Country would feature only Texas authors.

Book festival organizers wanted to encourage reading among children and adults while attracting more patrons to the Pioneer Memorial Library, the outstanding public library located in Fredericksburg’s historic district.

The organizing committee attracted members who had a variety of legal, planning, marketing, financial, writing, and social media skills. This dedicated core group of about 15 volunteers met every two weeks to organize the initial book festival. 

The first Fredericksburg Book Festival was held on January 18, 2025. The event featured presentations by a dozen authors, book sales and signings, children’s activities, and a trolley transporting festival attendees to three venues. Approximately 700 people attended this initial book festival, which successfully facilitated connections between authors and readers and shined a spotlight on the Pioneer Memorial Library. The festival also demonstrated that Fredericksburg, which has a rich history of community gatherings, would eagerly support a new literary event.

In addition to hosting a book festival, Friends of the Written Word seeks other ways to promote literacy, celebrate books, and highlight Texas authors. As an example, the nonprofit organization is sponsoring a short story contest.