WASHINGTON — Salman Rushdie and Tiki Barber are among 70 authors scheduled to participate in the 2008 National Book Festival.

The Library of Congress is organizing the festival for Sept. 27 on the National Mall. The event was started by first lady Laura Bush as a way to celebrate reading and books.

Ali Goldstein / NBC (ENLARGE)

Tiki Barber is among the 70 authors appearing at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. It takes place Sept. 27.

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The recently named poet laureate Kay Ryan is among the participants.

Other prominent authors who plan to present their work include Dionne Warwick, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Cokie Roberts, Bob Schieffer and Daniel Schorr. The father-and-daughter travel guidebook writers Arthur and Pauline Frommer are also scheduled to be among the guests, along with legendary travelogue writer Paul Theroux.

Barber, famous for his career as a football player, is the co-author with his brother of three picture books for kids and two middle-grade novels. Warwick, known as a singer, is the author of a forthcoming picture book called "Say a Little Prayer." R.L. Stine, author of more than 100 spooky books, including the "Goosebumps" series for kids, is on the schedule as well.

In addition to Rushdie, novelists taking part in the program include Francine Prose, Richard Price, Alexander McCall Smith and Philippa Gregory.

Podcasts featuring popular authors can be downloaded from the library's Web site.

A new feature at the festival will be presentations by school-age poets and artists who are winners of the library's River of Words environmental art and poetry contest.

Details at www.loc.gov/bookfest.

— Associated Press reports