Baltimore has long been known as “The City that Reads,” but it seems to be more and more a city known for it’s lively literary scene.

I was introduced to the scene back in 2004, when I stumbled onto the Baltimore Book Festival. As a relative newcomer to the area, I was amazed at all of the literary buzz around me, and was especially happy to learn about the CityLit Project, whose tent was one of the most interesting at the festival.

Under the leadership of Gregg Wilhelm, the CityLit Project has sponsored many events for lovers of literatures during the years since my own introduction to the nonprofit — evenings with writers, writing conferences, literary readings, practical advice sessions on the publishing industry, book festival tents, writer association meetings.

But perhaps the crown jewel is the CityLit Festival, now in its sixth year.

If you love books and literature, you won’t want to miss the CityLit Festival at the Enoch Pratt Free Library at 400 Cathedral Street. You’ll have the chance to see last year’s winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Literature, Junot Diaz, and last year’s National Book Award for Poetry winner Mark Doty. There are sessions on what’s becoming of our book culture, lifelong literature — too much to mention here!

Plus, exhibitors will be showing off their books, literary journals, services, and all things bookish in the exhibitors’ hall all day long.

I’ll be there for a session on first books, new authors, and my children’s book, Flightless Goose, will be in the exhibitor’s hall all day. Our gracious Read Street editors, Dave Rosenthal and Nancy Johnston will be present as moderators. There really is something for everyone!

Hope to see you there. If you love books, it’s a great way to “get lit” this Saturday.