Watch where you step this weekend. Chances are you’ll step on an author, if you are in Contra Costa County. The library is is holding its first ever reading festival from May 16 to 18, with events in almost all the libraries. Fifty amazing writers are participating, and all genres and ages will be addressed.

A quick glimpse at the first page on the website shows me Anita Amirrezvani, my friend who used to sit next to me here at the paper. Her book, “Blood of Flowers,” is a tale of a feisty young girl in 17th-century Persia. Anita will be at the El Sobrante Library on Saturday morning at 11. Also at 11, but at the Crockett Library, is Cara Black, whose mysteries are all set in Paris.

Then there is David Corbett, a very cool guy who lives in the Bay Area, writes political crime thrillers, such as “Blood of Paradise” and “Done for a Dime.” He used to be in the spook business, so he knows of which he writes. He’s at El Cerrito Library at noon Saturday.

One not to miss would be Kelly Corrigan, author of the memoir “The Middle Place.” This is an amazing book, and she is a great speaker; she’s funny and energetic and great. I interviewed her at her home a few months ago, and it was like spending time with a good girlfriend. Kelly is at the San Ramon Library at 1 p.m. Saturday.

I could go on and on. But you can read about it yourself on the Library’s website. I will draw your attention to Frank Portman, though. He wrote the awesome Young Adult novel “King Dork.” Frank is funny and clever. He’s also in a band. This would be a good one to bring your teenage boys who don’t like to read. He’ll be at the Pinole Library on Friday at 6 p.m.

Oh, and Karen Joy Fowler, author of “The Jane Austen Book Club” and the new “Wit’s End,” will be at the San Ramon Library at 11 a.m. Saturday. And Lolly Winston (”Good Grief”) is scheduled to go to the Ygnacio Valley Library at 1 p.m. Saturday.

I’m going to stop now. But seriously, check out the website and read about all the others.

Picture of Cara Black (with Libby Fischer Hellmann) by Flickr user Mark Coggins used under Creative Commons license