Laurel Book Fair Sunday Aug. 23
- Staff Writers
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The Laurel History Boys will bring together local history, music, fiction, memoir, and more during the 2026 Book Fair, Sunday, August 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Oliver’s Old Towne Tavern, 531 Main Street in Laurel.
Books will be available for purchase, and attendees are also encouraged to bring copies they already own to have them signed by participating authors.
Adding a little rock ’n’ roll history to this year’s event will be legendary WHFS DJ Weasel, who will be on hand as a special guest to meet fans, sign autographs, and share stories from the influential Washington-area radio station.
Laurel History Boys
The Laurel History Boys' Richard Friend and Kevin Leonard will feature their three books:
Capital Centre: A Retrospective
Laurel at 150
Postmark Laurel
The mission of the award-winning Laurel History Boys is to bring history to the community through presentations, books, videos, their website, social media, and other history-based projects. Their work has received recognition from former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, and the City of Laurel.
Maggie Weber
Books:
Bad Design
Why I Hate Everything
Maggie Weber is a mother, author, voice actor, and content creator who shares her genuine self with a devoted family of followers. As Refashioned Hippie, Weber highlights the excesses of couture culture and fast fashion while promoting responsible and affordable alternatives from smaller businesses and supporting life-changing charities. Her work encourages self-confidence and body positivity with humor, thoughtfulness, and compassion.
Jim Clash
Book:
Amplified: Interviews with Icons of Rock ’n’ Roll
Jim Clash immerses himself in extreme adventures for Forbes magazine. He has driven a Bugatti at 253 mph, flown in a MiG-25 to 84,000 feet at 2.6 times the speed of sound, summited the Matterhorn, and skied to the South Pole, among other adventures.
His current book, Amplified: Interviews with Icons of Rock ’n’ Roll, is an Amazon bestseller. His previous books include Forbes to the Limits and The Right Stuff: Interviews with Icons of the 1960s.
Michelle Paris
Books:
New Normal
Eat Dessert First
Michelle Paris is an award-winning Maryland author who writes about hope with humor. Her second novel, Eat Dessert First, tackles a serious subject through a mixture of heartfelt and comedic moments.
Her debut novel, New Normal, loosely based on her own experience as a young widow, received first place in The BookFest Fall 2023 Awards. Paris’ personal story of overcoming grief was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, and her essays about grief and midlife dating have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and other media outlets.
Wayne and Nathan Davis
Book:
Hidden History of Howard County
Hidden History of Howard County, which includes the Savage and Guilford communities, was written by historian Nathan S. Davis and his father, Wayne Davis, a retired government scientist. Their well-documented book explores local myths and uncovers erased histories.
Murray Siegel
Books:
Cupid Wore Snow Boots
MurMurings
MurMurings features illustrated jokes, one-liners, and non-sequiturs reflecting Murray Siegel’s quirky views and observations of the world around him. Subtitled Funny Tales of Terror and Other Desperate Cries for Help, the book also includes nine humorous—and true—short stories about frightening or tense events from Siegel’s life.
Bob Dover
Books:
Bridges of Washington, D.C.: A History & Guide
Bridgespotting: A Guide to Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times
Bob Dover is a geologist with a special interest in how geology and topography have influenced human settlement patterns, trade routes, and roadways—all revealed through the locations and histories of bridges.
His 2022 book, Bridgespotting, packages dozens of short travel narratives into an exploration of bridges as tourism and recreational attractions. Bridges of Washington, D.C.: A History & Guide examines the history of the District through its bridges, exploring what was constructed, where and why, and how those decisions reflect the city’s settlement, growth, industry, transportation technology, and politics.
Deliah Lawrence
Books:
Gotta Get It Back
Gotta Let It Go
Love romance with a side of danger? Deliah Lawrence is the award-winning author of the romantic suspense novels Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back. Her Baltimore-set stories combine chemistry, unexpected twists, and page-turning suspense.
Visitors can stop by to talk books, writing, and all things romantic suspense, learn about her upcoming novel, Gotta Have It All, and discover why her readers can’t resist a little “smooches and murder.”
L. R. Trovillion
Books:
The Banshee Legacy
The Devil’s Luck
A Death of Convenience
Not Your Lucky Day
L. R. Trovillion believes the world is far stranger—and more storied—than it appears, and she sets out to prove it in her novels. She is also learning the elusive Gaelic language and digging into her own family legends, firmly convinced that myths don’t belong only in the past—they belong at the heart of great stories.
Prince George’s County Historical Society
Featured titles include:
Prince George’s County: A Pictorial History by Alan Virta
Historic Prince George’s County: A Confluence of Cultures by George D. Denny Jr., Nathania A. Branch Miles, and Donna L. Schneider
Prince George’s County Maryland by Katharine D. Bryant and Donna L. Schneider
Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington Including the County of Prince George Maryland
Atlas of Prince George’s County, Maryland 1861
Founded in 1952, the Prince George’s County Historical Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the county’s long and diverse history.
Laurel Historical Society
Featured offerings include:
Laurel, Maryland, Centennial Souvenir Historical Booklet Set (1870–1970 and 1870–1995)
Historic Prince George’s County: A Confluence of Cultures
A selection of coloring books and children’s books
The Laurel Historical Society works to create a community that encourages learning about all of our neighbors by collecting, storytelling, cultivating legacies, and sharing history and cultural heritage.
2026 Laurel Book Fair
Sunday, August 23, 2026
3–6 p.m.
FREE
Oliver’s Old Towne Tavern
531 Main Street
All books will be on sale, and attendees are encouraged to bring copies they already own to have them signed.
Special Guest: Legendary WHFS DJ Weasel
Come meet the authors, discover new books, celebrate local history, and swap a few stories with one of the voices who helped make WHFS legendary.
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