WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa – The 4th Annual Windsor Heights Book Fair showcased local authors while collecting donations for the Altoona Food Bank on Sunday afternoon.

Visitors to the fair were asked to donate a non-perishable food item in lieu of an attendance fee. Jenn Thompson, one of the Authors at the Windsor Heights Book Fair, said that the fair also helped spotlight local authors.

“What we’re doing is trying to help self-published books get seen as well as just books in general, get a better rep than what they have lately,” Thompson said.

Stephen Brayton, another one of the Authors at the Windsor Heights Book Fair, said that book fairs are great ways for authors to build an audience.

“It’s always good to have local and regional and area authors promoted, and that’s because I think a lot of people may not know that there are a lot of authors right in your own local town who have great material and great books,” Brayton said.

Charron Timm, a visitor at the Windsor Heights Book Fair, said that she was happy to support local authors.

“Especially just supporting them instead of like, you know, your bookstores where you have Barnes and Noble. But just also, I think we have a lot of locally owned bookstores now popping up all over the Des Moines area, which I think is great for our community because some of these local authors are able to get their books in there and just promote themselves,” Timm said.

Learn more about the authors featured at the 2025 Windsor Heights Book Fair click here.