There is a certain kind of excitement that can only be found at a book festival. Readers wander from one title to another, authors share the stories behind their work, and unexpected discoveries happen simply because someone decided to pick up a book. That sense of curiosity and connection is what makes the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors 2026 such a special literary gathering. Taking place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the festival brings together people who share a love for books while creating opportunities to discover new authors, explore different perspectives, and celebrate the many stories that bring communities together.
The Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors 2026 concluded last September 26–27, 2026, marking the festival’s 21st anniversary. The main celebration transforms downtown Winston-Salem into a lively destination for readers, featuring author panels, readings, book signings, exhibitors, vendors, food trucks, and activities for visitors of all ages. The festival also welcomes young readers with a dedicated children’s area where children can participate in activities and receive free books, making the celebration an experience that families can enjoy together.
Literary festivals such as Bookmarks offer something that cannot always be found through a simple visit to a bookstore or an online search. They create a space where readers can encounter books in a more personal way. A panel can provide insight into an author’s creative process, a book signing can turn a title into a memorable keepsake, and an unexpected conversation can lead a reader toward a story they might never have discovered otherwise. It is this combination of literature and human connection that continues to make book festivals valuable to the publishing community.
Among the titles proudly represented by Citi of Books at this year’s festival is “A Civil General” by Dr. David Stinebeck. The book offers readers another distinctive voice to discover and reflects the variety of stories and perspectives found within our publishing community. We are excited to introduce this work to the festival audience and give visitors the opportunity to explore the author’s ideas, experiences, and creative vision through the pages of the book.
“A Civil General” by Dr. David Stinebeck and Scannell Gill is a historical novel based on the life and military career of General George Henry Thomas, one of the important Union commanders of the American Civil War. The novel presents Thomas through a fictionalized narrative while remaining grounded in the major events and circumstances of his life. Born and raised in Virginia, Thomas graduated from West Point and ultimately chose to fight for the Union despite coming from a Southern family. His decision resulted in his being disowned by his family and placed him in a complicated position during a war that divided the nation. The novel explores not only Thomas’s military accomplishments but also the personal convictions, relationships, sacrifices, and emotional burdens that accompanied his decision to remain loyal to the Union.
The novel takes its title from the remarkable career of a man who was once regarded as one of the most successful generals of the Civil War but who later became less familiar to the general public. Thomas’s military reputation was built through major Union victories and his ability to hold his forces together during extremely difficult moments. The story also looks beyond the battlefield, portraying his relationships with his soldiers, friends, and his independent and devoted wife. A young colonel who becomes Thomas’s confidante serves as the narrator, allowing readers to experience the general’s character, thoughts, grief, and determination through someone who knew him closely. Through this approach, Stinebeck and Gill transform a historical figure into a more personal and accessible character while examining the extraordinary pressures faced by a military leader attempting to preserve a divided country.
At the center of A Civil General is George Henry Thomas, a Virginian who makes the difficult decision to remain loyal to the United States when the Civil War begins. His choice is especially significant because his Southern background places him in direct conflict with his family’s expectations and loyalties. After graduating from West Point, Thomas develops into a respected military officer, eventually becoming one of the Union’s most dependable commanders. The novel follows his experiences through the war and explores his participation in some of its most consequential campaigns.
Thomas becomes particularly associated with his performance at Chickamauga, where his determined defense earned him the famous nickname “The Rock of Chickamauga.” He also played important roles in the Union victories at Missionary Ridge and Nashville. Rather than portraying these events merely as a sequence of military engagements, the novel places readers alongside Thomas and the men serving under him, emphasizing the difficult decisions, personal sacrifices, and human costs behind military victory.
A Civil General is more than a military novel. It is a story about loyalty, conviction, leadership, sacrifice, and the difficult choices created by a divided nation. Through General George Henry Thomas, David Stinebeck and Scannell Gill explore what it means to remain committed to one’s principles even when that commitment carries a profound personal cost. The book’s combination of historical events, fictionalized storytelling, military action, and personal relationships makes it an engaging choice for readers of Civil War fiction and American history. It also provides an opportunity to rediscover a commander whose reputation was immense during his lifetime but whose story has received less popular attention than those of several of his contemporaries.
Citi of Books at Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors 2026 — celebrating authors, discovering new perspectives, and giving more stories the opportunity to find their readers.