Festival of the Book to tie in with Celebrate 250

It can be tough to shake yourself out of a sound sleep to answer a middle-of-the-night phone call. But when destiny’s dialing, it’s worth it.

That’s how one of the guests coming to next month’s Virginia Festival of the Book learned that she had become the new king of her village back in Ghana.

Peggielene Bartels and co-author Eleanor Herman will discuss their book about Bartels’ regal transformation, “King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village,” at noon March 23 at Charlottesville City Council Chambers.

City Councilor Dave Norris will serve as moderator.

The event is one of three festival selections tied in with the city’s Celebrate 250 Charlottesville programming. Bartels is king of Otuam, Ghana — a seaside town near Charlottesville’s own sister city, Winneba.

“It’s not Winneba, our sister city, but it’s very close,” said Nancy Damon, the festival’s program director.

Bartels, whose American home is in Northern Virginia, has attended the festival before, Damon said.

The other Celebrate 250 events include “If Buildings Could Talk,” on March 22, and “What You Didn’t Know About Charlottesville,” on March 23. Both events also are in City Council Chambers.

“If Buildings Could Talk” brings in three writers to talk about local places with proud histories.

Patricia Castelli, author of “The Story of Keswick Hall,” will appear with Rick Britton, who wrote “Jefferson: A Monticello Sampler,” and Barclay Rives, author of “A History of Grace Church.” Burton Zisk will moderate.

“What You Didn’t Know About Charlottesville” will bring together Eryn S. Brennan, Margaret Maliszewski, Margaret O’Bryant and Dr. Morton C. Wilhelm with moderator Nancy O’Brien.

You won’t need royal connections to score a ticket. All three events are free, as are most of the 222 offerings on the 18th annual festival’s schedule. This year’s gathering will bring in 398 total participants, including 79 fiction authors, 30 Crime Wave authors, 229 nonfiction authors, 27 family authors, 24 poets and 32 publishing figures.

It’s still possible to get tickets for some of the festival’s signature events.

The Crime Wave luncheon with Jeffery Deaver — author of “Carte Blanche,” a recent James Bond novel — starts at noon March 24 at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Tickets are $50.

The popular Leadership Breakfast, at 7:30 a.m. March 21 in the Omni Ballroom, will feature Jerry West, an NBA player, coach and general manager. West penned “West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life” with Charlottesville author Jonathan Coleman. Individual tickets are $40, and tables for 10 are $500.

The Festival Luncheon with speaker Edward L. Ayers, a historian who is president of the University of Richmond and one of the “History Guys” on the “BackStory” radio program, begins at 11:45 a.m. March 22 at the Omni. Seats are $60.

To start mapping out your festival visits, check the calendar at www.vabook.org.