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 “Kindred Hearts: Book 4” by Cheryl Fosnot Bingisser. 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.
“Kindred Hearts: Book 4” is compelling because it does not shy away from the difficult experiences that can shape a person’s life. Emily’s story illustrates how trauma can affect a young person’s ability to trust, forgive, and feel safe, while Ricky’s story demonstrates how neglect and abandonment can leave a child vulnerable to circumstances beyond his control. Rather than presenting healing as something simple or instantaneous, the novel portrays it as a gradual process involving painful memories, difficult decisions, relationships, and the willingness to accept help. Readers are given characters who are imperfect and wounded, but who still have the possibility of moving toward healing and a better future. This emotional honesty gives the novel depth and allows its Christian message to emerge naturally through the characters’ struggles.
Another reason to read Kindred Hearts is the way it combines several elements of Christian fiction. Readers who enjoy romance and family-centered storytelling will find those familiar elements within Bingisser’s broader Romance in the Rockies series, but this fourth installment also incorporates suspense, emotional drama, difficult social circumstances, and questions about forgiveness. Emily’s conflict with Brent creates uncertainty around whether reconciliation is possible, while Ricky’s situation introduces a different kind of suspense as those around him attempt to determine whether he can be removed from the dangers of street life. The two stories give the novel a broad emotional range and allow Bingisser to explore how different people respond to hardship.
Ultimately, Kindred Hearts: Book 4 offers readers a story about people who have been deeply hurt but are not necessarily defined forever by what happened to them. Through Emily, Ricky, Brent, Lincoln, Pastor Ryan, and the other characters surrounding their lives, Cheryl Fosnot Bingisser creates a narrative where difficult circumstances lead to questions about responsibility, forgiveness, compassion, and the possibility of redemption. The book can appeal particularly to readers who enjoy Christian romance and inspirational fiction but want a story with heavier emotional stakes and characters confronting serious challenges.
As the fourth book in the Romance in the Rockies series, it also provides another opportunity for Bingisser’s readers to experience her blend of faith, relationships, suspense, and heartfelt storytelling.
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.