• Meet-and-greets
• Book sales and signings
• Cozy crafts and activities

Scheduled Activities

• 9 a.m. – Doors open
• 10 a.m. – Keynote Speaker: Kayla Olson
• 11 a.m. – Panel: Topic to be announced
• 12 p.m. – Author Readings: Variety
•   1 p.m. – Panel: Topic to be announced
•   2 p.m. – Author Readings: Speculative Fiction and Mystery/Thriller/Horror Fiction
•   3 p.m. – Closing Speaker: Claire St. Amant
•   4 p.m. – Author Readings: Poetry
•   5 p.m. – Doors  close

Kayla Olson, Keynote Speaker
Kayla Olson is the author of The Reunion and The Lodge in addition to two books for young adults (The Sandcastle Empire and This Splintered Silence). Whether writing at her desk or curled up with a good book, she can most often be found with a fresh cup of coffee and at least one cat. Visit her at KaylaOlson.com or at @AuthorKaylaOlson on Instagram/TikTok.

Claire St. Amant, Closing Speaker
Investigative journalist Claire St. Amant produced crime stories for CBS News for nearly a decade, first at 48 Hours, and later contributing to 60 Minutes. She built her unconventional career one story at a time, rising through local media to national television and her own network podcast, Final Days on Earth with Claire St. Amant. Her 2025 memoir, Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Television, is an inside look at the real-life drama of working in true crime. In 2026, St. Amant created and executive produced Killer Confessions: Case Files of a Texas Ranger, for Warner Brothers Discovery. It is available on HBO Max. She is also a visiting professor at Baylor University.

• Alex Aaronson | Advance to Contact: 1980
• Shawn Blessing | Scrub Oak
• Chance Nix | The Man at the End of the World
• Carl Reinelt | Charlie's Ladder

• Anna L. Davis | Open Source (Enchancement Series)
• Helen Dent | The Burning Tree
• Jalyn Renae Fiske | Side Quest: Stories
• Lyndsey Lewellen | Harlow Morgan and the Sky City
• Fred Michael Miller | The Immortal Game
• David Nos | The Final War of Wizards and Dragons
• Tatiana Obey | Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novella
• Jill K. Sayre | On Wings of Stone and Light
• Michael D. Smith | The Benign Incursion 
• C.R. Ware | Letters of a Wind Walker
• Jolene Whitten | HyberNation: A Tajo Tale

• Addison Brae | Off Edge
• Kate Khavari | A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons
• Gay Ann Kiser |  Arson in the Alto Section
• Mark A. Nobles | Stories of a Different Dark
• William Dean Patterson | Deathgod
• Sheila Williamson | Mistletoe, Murder & Mayhem

• Michelle Angelle | Dear Roomie
• Suzanne Ferrell | KIDNAPPED
• South Hopkins | She's So Lovely
• Kary Jane Hutto |  The Summer Everything Changed

• Lindsey Alice | F*ck it Thankfully: How I Used F*ck You & Gratitude to Transform My Life
• Linda Bonner | Blessed with Extraordinary: Empowering Families and Advancing a More Inclusive World
• Laura Bull | From Individual to Empire: A Guide to Building an Authentic and Powerful Brand
• LaKrisha Compton | Loved and Chosen: A Devotional for the Woman Who Wants to Belong
• Karen T. Garrett | Called to Be a Creative
• Lisa Hammett, CPQC | From Burnout to Best Life: Sustainable Strategies for a Healthy Mind & Body
• Leeanne R Hay | NPE* A Story Guide for Unexpected DNA Discoveries
• Kim Horner | Probably Someday Cancer: Genetic Risk and Preventative Mastectomy

• Jericka Blancett | Abandon All the Flowers: A Memoir

• Kavya Baburaj | Mindscapes: Where Poetry Paints the Landscape of the Mind
• Annë Thomas Varughese | My Words Fall Out
• Mockingbird Poetry Society
  • Beth Ayers
  • Lopa Banerjee | Whispering Sagas
  • Isaac Philo

• When is McKinney Literary Fest 2026?
  • Saturday, May 30th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Where is the McKinney Literary Fest 2026 being held?
  • McKinney City Hall at 401 E. Virginia St., McKinney TX 75069
  • From Highway 5, go east on Louisiana, then follow the signs for "City Hall"
• Is the event indoors?
  • Yes, the event will be held indoors.
• Will there by food and drinks available to purchase?
  • There are no concessions at the event. There is a food and beverage vending machine located near the restrooms inside City Hall. You are also welcome to bring food and drink into the building. There are also a variety of great restaurants located downtown, listed here on the Visit McKinney website.
• Will there be books available to purchase?
  • Yes! Authors will have books available for purchase and Neighbor Books, our local bookstore, will be selling books by the keynote speakers.
• Will authors be signing their books?
  • Absolutely! Authors will signing their books.
• What types of authors will be featured?
  • The festival features a wide range of authors across genres, all with novels intended for young adults and adults.
• Is registration required?
  • Registration is helpful, as it gives us a headcount for planning purposes, but it is not required and does not reserve a seat in the auditorium for any session.
• I'm an author, is it too late to join this year?
  • The application period has closed for 2026. The application period for next year will reopen in 2027.
• Is there parking available at McKinney City Hall?
  • Yes, free public parking is available in the City Hall parking lot and nearby streets.
• Is the event ADA accessible?
  • Yes, McKinney City Hall is ADA accessible, including parking, entrances, and restrooms.
• Are there restrooms available on site?
  • Yes, restrooms are available behind the elevators.

• Enhance and encourage literacy
• Foster community involvement and relationship building
• Present diverse perspectives and content