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About the Virginia Book Fair

Virginia Book Fair’s Mascot Gracie of Pungo (with Sherwood and Cardinal). Artwork by Kat Maus. 

The Virginia Book Fair was founded by Tracy Federali, along with a small but growing team of passionate book lovers dedicated to creating a celebration of reading for the entire community.

The idea for the fair began after Tracy met R.L. Stine in 2024. Inspired by that experience, she made it her mission to bring Bob back to her hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia, so local fans could enjoy the opportunity to meet one of the most influential authors of a generation.

That dream grew into something even bigger.

The Virginia Book Fair was created to connect readers with authors, publishers, independent bookstores, artists, educators, and literary organizations from across the region. Whether you’re discovering your next favorite novel, meeting the writer behind a beloved series, shopping with local booksellers, or attending special presentations, the fair is designed to celebrate every corner of the literary world.

As the inaugural event, this is only the beginning. Our goal is to build a welcoming annual tradition that inspires readers of all ages while supporting the people and organizations who keep books alive.

We hope you’ll join us as we write Chapter One of the Virginia Book Fair.

Built on Experience

While the Virginia Book Fair is a brand-new event, it is backed by an experienced team. To help ensure a successful inaugural year, behind-the-scenes operations are being supported by Incredible Conventions, the organization behind events including Tidewater Comicon, Hampton Comicon, Fredericksburg Comic Con, Superstar Anime, and other fan-focused events across Virginia.

From exhibitor management and guest relations to marketing, logistics, and attendee experience, this partnership allows the Virginia Book Fair to combine a fresh vision with years of event-planning expertise—creating a welcoming, well-organized celebration for readers, authors, publishers, and booksellers alike.

Our No AI Pledge

Books are, at their heart, a celebration of human creativity.

The Virginia Book Fair is committed to supporting authors, artists, and creators by prioritizing original, human-created work. While technology can be a valuable tool in publishing and business, we believe readers deserve transparency about the work they are purchasing and the people behind it.

As part of this commitment:

  • We prioritize exhibitors selling original, human-created books, artwork, and literary works.

  • We expect exhibitors to accurately represent how their work was created.

  • Content presented as original should not be primarily generated by artificial intelligence without clear disclosure.

  • We celebrate the unique voices, experiences, and creativity that only people can bring to storytelling.

Our goal is not to discourage innovation, but to protect the trust between creators and readers while fostering a marketplace built on authenticity, craftsmanship, and imagination.

If you intend to make this an official exhibitor policy, it can be strengthened with specific language about disclosure requirements, review standards, and consequences for misrepresentation.