Bumbershoot literary lineup to include Edmund White, Joshua Ferris

Some top-notch authors are slated to appear at Bumbershoot this year. Among the out-of-towners: Edmund White, the preeminent gay novelist ("The Farewell Symphony"); National Book Award finalist Joshua Ferris ("Then We Came to the End"); speculative fiction writer William Gibson ("Spook Country"); graphic novelist Daniel Clowes ("Ghost World"); Nathan McCall ("Makes Me Wanna Holler") and Samantha Hunt ("The Invention of Everything Else"). Local authors include National Book Award winner Sherman Alexie, Rebecca Brown, Ryan Boudinot and David Schmader.

Panels on office-set fiction, the historical novel, songwriting, young adult fiction and Post-it Lit ("transforming the humble Post-it note into a heroic narrative canvas") are in the works. Other highlights: a teen angst poetry contest and a haiku competition. The festival runs Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Seattle Center. Go to www.bumbershoot.org for more detail.

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com