Headliners

New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn will open the 2027 Opelika Book Festival with an unforgettable evening celebrating the power of historical fiction.

Known for her meticulously researched novels, unforgettable characters, and page-turning storytelling, Kate Quinn has become one of today’s most beloved historical fiction authors. Her novels transport readers across centuries, bringing remarkable women and overlooked moments in history vividly to life.

Her bestselling works include The Alice Network, The Huntress, The Rose Code, The Diamond Eye, The Briar Club, and The Phoenix Crown (co-authored with Janie Chang). Her books have captivated millions of readers around the world and have become favorites of book clubs, libraries, and historical fiction enthusiasts alike.

Lucky Diaz is a GRAMMY Award-winning, multi–Latin Grammy-winning, multi–EMMY nominated author, musician, keynote speaker, and taco lover whose storytelling spans music, television, literature, and live speaking. As a first-generation Mexican-American, his work celebrates identity, creativity, joy, and community, bringing vibrant bilingual narratives to audiences across the country.

Widely recognized as a leading voice in family entertainment and contemporary Latino American culture, Lucky speaks nationally about music and literacy, arts education, bilingual storytelling, representation in children’s media, and the power of creativity to build stronger communities. His engaging presentations blend live performance, personal storytelling, humor, and cultural insight, connecting with educators, families, conference audiences, and creative leaders alike

His debut picture book, Paletero Man, became an instant classic, earning starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and ALA Booklist. Recognized for its heartfelt storytelling and cultural richness, the book established Lucky as a dynamic voice in children’s literature. His growing catalog, including La Guitarrista and his newest picture book, Fix-It Familia, continues his mission of uplifting Latiné stories and celebrating the beauty of everyday family life.

Lucky lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Alisha, their daughter, Indiana, and their dogs, Django and Horchata.

Stephen Graham Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly thirty novels and collections, and there’s some novellas and comic books in there as well. Stephen’s been an NEA recipient, has won the Texas Institute of Letters Award for Fiction, the LA Times Ray Bradbury Prize, the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction, WLA’s Distinguished Achievement Award, ALA’s RUSA Award and Alex Award, the 2023 American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award, the Locus Award, four Bram Stoker Awards, three Shirley Jackson Awards, six This is Horror Awards, and he’s been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award, and the Eisner Award. He’s also made Bloody Disgusting’s Top Ten Horror Novels, and is the guy who wrote Mongrels, The Only Good Indians, My Heart is a Chainsaw, Earthdivers, and I Was a Teenage Slasher. His most recent books are True Believers and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and Off the Reservation.