About Us
The Mahoning Valley Book Bazaar is a literary marketplace designed for discovery. The Bazaar brings together independent bookstores, creators, small presses, and passionate readers for a one-of-a-kind, magical day of literary connection.
Staffed by lifelong readers and literary advocates, the Bazaar is tailored to the readers of the Valley—no matter their age, lifestyle, or background. This is where your next favorite book is waiting to be found.
Event Logistics
Taking place at the beginning of the holiday season, the Mahoning Valley Book Bazaar allows attendees to shop over 70 book-related vendors in one location. Browse for yourself or find something special for all the readers on your holiday gift list.
Date/Time: Saturday, November 7th, 2026 | 9AM - 5PM
Location: Holiday Inn Youngstown, 7410 South Avenue, Youngstown OH 44512
Participating Vendors/Authors:
View list here.
Ticket Pricing:
- Vendor Tables: $100.00 full price / $75.00 early bird
- Author Tables: $50.00 full price / $35.00 early bird
- General Admission Ticket: $10.00 / Buy One Get One for a Limited Time
- Children 12 years old and under: No ticket required.^
Ways to purchase tickets:
- Click here to purchase tickets online
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In Person:
- Pre-Event: Purchase tickets at POP! Art Books Culture, located at 6949 Market St, Boardman, OH 44512
- Day of Event: Purchase tickets at the ticketing table
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Accepted Payment Methods:
- All major credit cards
- Cash (in-person purchases only)
Food/Beverage: Coffee, tea, and water will be available throughout the day, but meals/snacks are not provided.
^Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Meet the Team
Julie Cancio Harper (she/her)
Julie Cancio Harper has been a creative project manager for most of her career. First in the publishing industry, then in film production, she focused on finding the three-way win — for her clients, for their audiences, and for her co-workers. In 2025, Julie served as the manager for Lit Youngstown’s Fall Literary Festival. She is a reiki master teacher and tarot reader hosting workshops at The Dreaming Tree in Hubbard, Ohio. Julie is also the executive producer of the Neighborhood Bookstore author interview podcast. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Kenyon College and attended the University of Denver Publishing Institute.
Craig Duster (he/him)
Craig Duster is a Sagittarius and enjoys long walks on the beach. He is also the Vice President of Lit Youngstown and the owner and Head Ne'er-Do-Well of the POP! Art Books Culture, Youngstown's 2023, 2024 & 2025 Readers' Choice award-winning used bookstore. Before founding POP! with his wife Christine, Craig was the Special Project Coordinator for Sally Centigrade Gallery and has curated gallery shows in Colorado and Ohio. Craig holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado.
RW Franklin (she/her)
RW Franklin loves finding time to write in between cuddles from her spoiled cat (Gus) and her loyal dog (Lily), running a business with her husband (Joe), and facilitating writing workshops within her local community. Working as Tech Manager of Lit Youngstown's Fall Literary Festival, RW has experience managing large-scale, international literary events. She continues to serve the literary community throughout the year by hosting a monthly writing group as well as conducting the occasional craft workshop.
Eric Harper (he/him)
Eric Harper spent 18 years as a film and television producer, helping to tell stories for platforms like Amazon and Discovery Channel, before leaving to tell his own stories. Currently, he works as a fiction writer and insurance agent in Ohio, where he co-hosts the Neighborhood Bookstore author interview podcast. Eric earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Kenyon College and a Master of Fine Arts in film production from Boston University.
Delaney L. Mathew (she/her)
Delaney L. Mathew is a writer from the Youngstown, Ohio area who focuses mainly on supernatural and horror literature. She's a graduate of Youngstown State University and works full-time as a retail manager. When not working, Delaney can be found volunteering at literary events hosted by Lit Youngstown and serving as their Book Fair Manager for their annual Fall Literary Festival. Her short stories are featured in publications by Jenny Magazine, Minds Eyes Publications, and Wicked Shadow Press. She is currently querying her first novel.
Eliza Osborn (she/her)
Eliza Osborn is a South Carolina native but has lived in Youngstown for the majority of her life. As a freelance writer, she has had her work published in print magazines across the United States. Eliza has worked extensively as a freelance writer and editor, and her young adult contemporary novel The Mystery of Dogwood Cross was published in serialized form by Storybird. In 2023, her young adult historical suspense novel, The Love I Meant, hit #1 in its category on Amazon. Her short stories and poetry have been published in Wheelhouse Magazine, The Berlin Review, and Phylum Press. She is the lead at Author Cultivation, which specializes in manuscript reports and book design.
Press Releases
Images
We've created the following images for your convenience. Download them individually below or click here to download the full collection.
Contact & Social Media
Email: hello@mvbookbazaar.com
Phone: (330) 360-9696
Please use the hashtag #mvbb26 and/or #mvbookbazaar in your posts.
