Bring together a lot of people who love to read books and a group of folks who love to write them and you have an event, a literary event, to be exact.

You have Page After Page Bookstore's first-ever literary festival; a day-long celebration of books and their authors, says shop owner Susan Hinkle.

When Hinkle bought Page After Page more than a year ago, Elizabeth City's only downtown bookseller was about to close its doors. Since the day she took over, Hinkle has strived to bring together book lovers and authors from all over for signings and discussions, presenting what might be described as small literary events.

But Saturday Hinkle is hosting what she says is the beginning of an annual tradition, "For the Love of Books: First Annual Literary Festival." This time it's a big literary event for the people of the Albemarle.

"I just thought it would be a nice thing to do," said Hinkle from inside her little bookstore on the waterfront.

Inside Page After Page readers find shelves of current and classic books by local and nationally known authors. Many of the authors represented in her shop have, in the past year and a half, made appearances and many of those will return Saturday for the festival.

For her first run at holding a literary festival, Hinkle is bringing a total of 18 authors and their books from around the region, the state and the country to read, sign and discuss their works. While some of the authors have held signings at Page After Page, many of them will be making first-time trips to River City.

The event begins Saturday at 1 p.m. with children's authors like Outer Banks writer C.S. Harrington — she'll be reading from "The Marsh Runners II: Uncharted Waters." Hinkle said she has pulled together several authors who target age groups from 2-years to 12.

In the evening, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Hinkle and her staff will hold a meet and greet session with all the authors. Then, at 5:30 p.m., each author will get up, talk a bit and read a selection from their current work.

Authors range from local notables like Stephen March to national author Joyce Faulkner, the winner of the 2006 Military Fiction History Award. Many of the authors are also established North Carolina writers like C.R. Guess and Tom Lewis — you might remember Lewis from his recently historical novel, "Sunday's Child."

As Hinkle described the event last Monday, her shop was full of book buyers snatching up the latest copy of this book or that. She said since taking over the bookstore, she has seen local interest in her shop increase.

But increasing interest in her shop is only part of the equation. Hinkle said she's interested in increasing interest in reading in general.

Over the past year or so Hinkle has done a lot to promote reading and her shop. Aside from holding author signings, she's brought children's reading hours to the waterfront as well as special parties that revolve around books.

She said that it was six months ago that she decided to go the next step and hold this literary event. She said she chose January, after the holidays, because it fills a void when things slow down and people might be more apt to have time on their calendars for the festival.

A good turnout at the event Saturday would please Hinkle, of course. She said she hopes all her planning and the array of authors she has planned will please a diverse number of book lovers.

Aside from a good novel or two, she has also recruited non-fiction writers such as Eric Anthony Sheppard who penned "Ancestor's Call," a story about tracing his African-American roots.

Other local authors will include Ray Allen, Fred Tanner and mystery writer and Elizabeth City State University English professor Joseph Lisowski.

For more information about the festival call 335-7243.