Booksville Festival lead Natalie Kahler came to us with a clear vision. Long before the festival took shape, she had already been crafting ideas for the event’s logo. She knew she wanted to feature a wax stamp and a calligraphy pen as central elements, along with a deep red color. “Early writers would have written with a quilled pen and sealed their manuscripts with a wax seal,” Natalie shared. A woman who loves symbolism, our friend also wanted to incorporate red—a color often associated with journalism.

As the current president of the GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club, Natalie envisioned the festival as part of the club’s 115th anniversary celebration. She recognized a gap in Hernando County—a need for an event dedicated to the often-overlooked world of literature. With inclusivity at its core, she designed Booksville to welcome authors, poets, professionals, amateurs, and literary enthusiasts alike. She made sure there was something for everyone, including engaging activities and contests for younger generations leading up to and during the event.

One of our favorite aspects of the festival was her unique “Book Host” initiative. Businesses outside of Brooksville were invited to participate by featuring and selling books leading up to the festival. These locations were mapped on the official festival website, along with the books they selected, making this a creative way to involve the larger community in the literary celebration.

On event day, authors sold out of their books, and downtown Brooksville was buzzing with energy. Community members met writers, explored new stories, and enjoyed live readings both on and off the author stage. Seeing the town come alive with creativity was inspiring, and we’re proud to support initiatives like this—ones that bring people together, celebrate storytelling, and enrich our local culture. We look forward to seeing Booksville grow in the years to come!