In July of 2026, we assumed sponsorship of the San Joaquin Valley Book Fest, an event that has attracted nearly 1,000 readers, students, teachers, and aspiring writers during its first three years. The fourth annual Book Fest, scheduled for May 1, 2027, will feature local author Samina Najmi, winner of the Aurora Polaris Award in Creative Nonfiction, with additional authors to be announced.
Support from your organization will help us expand programming, bring nationally recognized authors to Fresno, and keep this event free and accessible to readers and families throughout the Central Valley.
We have sponsored this event for more than thirty years. Board members donate money and sell ads in our program to fund it, and the 2026 reception for the fifteen winners attracted more than 150 parents, students, and supporters. This event is life-changing for many of the young people who participate. It goes beyond William Saroyan and his work and demonstrates to students and their parents how critical thinking and writing can change their perceptions and the perceptions of those around them. For many, this is the first public recognition they receive.
Beginning in 2027, winners of the Young Writers Award will be recognized during Book Fest weekend, where they will participate in a special reading alongside established authors. The program creates a bridge between emerging and accomplished writers while encouraging young people to see themselves as part of Fresno’s literary future.
For more than three decades, the William Saroyan Society has honored one of Fresno’s greatest literary figures while investing in future generations of readers and writers. By connecting nationally recognized authors, local voices, students, educators, and the broader community, the Society helps ensure that Fresno’s literary heritage continues to inspire future generations.