Mississippi Book Festival, Capitol Building, Jackson, MS, September 13, 2025
I’m honored and excited to participate in this year’s festival! On Saturday, September 13, at 2:45 PM, I will discuss Deep Roots, Broken Branches with the panel on “Mississippi Memoirs” on the grounds of the Old State Capitol in Jackson. Booksigning to follow at 4:15 PM.
“Bynum’s grandmother emerges as a stabilizing force, her letters and guidance offering a lifeline through the turbulence of divorce, single motherhood, and academic ambition. This resonated deeply with my public health work on intergenerational trauma healing; Bynum’s story mirrors research showing how even one supportive figure can disrupt cycles of abuse and neglect.”—Sarah Jensen, sociologist and public health professional.
“Deep Roots, Broken Branches isn’t sentimental, and it doesn’t offer easy closure. But it’s honest in a way that’s rare. For anyone trying to understand how personal history intertwines with broader forces of race, class, gender, and geography—especially in the American South—this book is essential. And for those of us who call Jones County home, it’s personal.”—Jonathan Odell, novelist and memoirist
Overview
The Mississippi Book Festival, a nonprofit founded by literacy advocates, launched in August 2015 on the State Capitol grounds and continues to draw thousands to its annual “literary lawn party” and book lovers’ celebration. Visit our archive festival pages for highlights, pictures and videos of past festivals.
Impact
Our 10th anniversary festival was a stellar showcase of the very best. On Saturday, September 14th, over 8,000 people attended indoor panel discussions, while hundreds more enjoyed outdoor festival offerings. Add in pre-festival events, for local schools and early kickoffs across the state, and we reached more than 37,500 booklovers in our 7-day celebration.
Authors
Hundreds of contemporary authors — national, regional and local — connect directly with fans and new readers, as invited guests on Official Panels that explore in-depth themes, or along Authors Alley, the festival’s hub for self-published authors.
