If we were to create a Venn diagram of public radio listeners and avid readers it would basically just be a circle. We know you read because you’re smart, erudite and curious. And you listen to WAMU for the same reasons. Plus, tote bags!

WAMU listeners are in for a treat Saturday, September 5, when the National Book Festival takes place. Book lovers from across the country will converge on the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. for author readings and signings, events for kids and a chance to revel in the written word.

This year the festival turns 15 and draws inspiration for its theme from the 200th anniversary of the Library of Congress’ acquisition of Thomas Jefferson’s library, using his quote “I cannot live without books” to set the tone (Jefferson had a flair for the dramatic, don’t you think?).

There are so, SO many ways to spend your time at the festival, and I highly recommend combing the schedule for your favorite authors and panel info, consulting the map and coming up with a plan. Or you can do what I usually do and wing it. Definitely stop by the WAMU booth, staffed by station volunteers, which will be on the level level by the Pavilion of States. I’ll be wandering about. If you see me, say hi!

BUT, if you’ve heard about a lot of your favorite books on WAMU, you’re in luck! I’ve done the work for you, coming up with an agenda that highlights authors we’ve spoken with here at WAMU who will be appearing at the Festival.

10 – 10:45 a.m. (Contemporary Life Pavilion – Room 146) Start with Style: Kick your day off right with author and Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan. The Kojo Nnamdi Show has been fortunate to connect with her on air several times, including a visit to discuss her recent book. The phones light up whenever Robin’s on with Kojo, so here’s your chance to talk to her in person. And don’t have outfit anxiety, she’s VERY nice.

10:55 – 11:40 a.m. (Fiction Pavilion – East Salon) Hot Take on History: It was recently announced that Viet Thanh Nguyen’s debut novel, “The Sympathizer,” is up for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel prize. His take on the Vietnam War is a Heller-esque satire that’s something completely refreshing and new.

11 a.m. – noon (Signing Area- Hall A) NPR Autograph Collection: Swing by the signing section to get Cokie Roberts’ signature on a copy of her latest book “Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868.” She joined the Diane Rehm Show to talk about it this spring. But also, because: COKIE. ROBERTS.

11:20 – 11:50 a.m. and noon – 12:30 p.m. (Teens Pavilion – Room 150) YA Double Header: Two local authors who’ve taken part in our ‘Kids & YA Reading’ shows are at the festival. First up, Kwame Alexander joined us last summer and his novel in verse “The Crossover” has since won a Newbery Medal. Then, we talked with Ellen Oh in the winter of 2012 when the first book in her trilogy was published. The final chapter is upon us, so get caught up.

11:50 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (Food Pavilion – Room 144) Lunch Time!: Chef Nora Pouillon opened what would become the first certified organic restaurant in the country right here in D.C. She joined Diane Rehm to talk about her career earlier this year, and you can spend the lunch hour with her at the festival.

12:45 – 1:30 p.m. (Mystery, Thrillers & Science Fiction Pavilion – West Salon) Mystery Man: Fun fact – Kojo reads a lot of Walter Mosley, in part it’s because the man is incredibly prolific, in addition to being good, with over 40 titles to his name. Hear about his latest, a Leonid McGill mystery, “And Sometimes I Wonder About You.”

1:20 – 2:25 p.m. (Fiction Pavilion – East Salon) Eyes on the Pulitzer Prize: Award winner Jane Smiley is on hand to talk about her work with avid readers. Check out her chat with Diane about her latest novel, ‘Early Warning’ which continues the tale of the Langdon family.

2:35 p.m. (Poetry & Prose Pavilion – Room 145) Public Radio Loves a Panel: Head to one that has great promise on “Why Literature Matters.” You’ll hear from repeat Kojo Show guest Azar Nafisi, PBS journalist (bonus #pubmedia points!) and poet Jeffrey Brown (fresh off a Diane Rehm Show appearance), and Jane Hirshfield, a poet turned literary critic in the Poetry & Prose pavilion.

3:20 – 3:50 p.m. (Teens Pavilion – Room 150) The Famous Author Next Door on Literacy: Late last year we talked with David Baldacci, whose roots in this region are deep. He still lives in the area and you can catch him talking about the importance of literacy and his YA work. He’ll talk mysteries later in the day as well.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. (Signing Area – Hall A) NPR Autograph Collection: Tom Gjelten, a Peabody Award-winning correspondent for NPR and Diane Rehm Show guest host, will be signing copies of his latest book, “A Nation of Nations: A Great American Immigration Story.”

4:25 – 5:10 p.m. (Contemporary Life Pavilion – Room 146) Paths Converge: Another Pulitzer winner, Nicholas Kristof, will be discussing his work for the New York Times and the four best-sellers he has co-authored with his wife. He joined guest host Christina Bellantoni to talk about the latest,  “A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity,” last fall.

5:20 – 6:05 p.m. (History Pavilion – Ballroom C) Truth Can Be Stranger Than Fiction: Lawrence Wright is a master of non-fiction. If you haven’t yet read his earlier work like “The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11,” (which he discussed with Diane in 2006) and “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief,” check them out, posthaste. He joined Kojo to talk about his latest, “Thirteen Days in September: The Dramatic Story of the Struggle for Peace,” last fall.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (Signing Area – Hall A) NPR Autograph Collection: The one and only Maureen Corrigan – of “Fresh Air” fame – is a D.C. local. She’s joined both Kojo and Diane on various topics. She’s always suggesting great reads, so catch up with her on her latest book, “So We Read On: How ‘The Great Gatsby’ Came to Be and Why It Endures.”

6:10 – 7:10 p.m. (Special Programs Pavilion – Ballroom B) Writing the Wartime Experience: This panel includes author Phil Klay, who joined Diane with fellow Marine David Morris this spring, discussing the works coming out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kojo considered the literature of war back in 2013 and earlier in the day there will be panels discussing wars farther back in history, starting at 2:35 p.m.

7:15 p.m. (Romance Pavilion – West Salon) Isn’t It Romantic?: This summer NPR did something that might have made some listeners clutch their pearls – they put together a  list of 100 “swoon-worthy” romance novels. Petra Mayer, an editor at NPR Books, emcees a panel devoted to the genre.

8:00 p.m. (Books to Movies Pavilion – Ballroom B) The Book is Always Better: Whether you agree with that statement or not, you’ll want to check out this panel discussion of taking books and turning them into movies. We’re all big Ann Hornaday fans around the office. She has joined both Kojo and Diane several times and is moderating this discussion.

Time to call it a day, folks. Go home and hit the hay, or the books. After all, Neil Gaiman said, “A book is a dream that you hold in your hands.”