Las Vegas Book Festival To Feature Former Nevada Governors/Authors Richard Bryan And Bob Miller

Plan To Attend Free Festival Oct. 18, 10 A.M.-5 P.M. At Historic Fifth Street School

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 9, 2025) - The free 2025 Las Vegas Book Festival will feature political icons and authors former U.S. Senator/Nevada Governor Richard Bryan and former Nevada Governor Bob Miller. Both will be available to sign their autobiographies after participating in the "Destined To Lead" panel together with moderator Geoff Schumacher at 10:30 a.m. in the Historic Fifth Street School auditorium.

Bryan's My Life in Nevada Politics, written with John L. Smith, tells the story of the rise of Richard Bryan from humble beginnings in Las Vegas to the pinnacle of Nevada politics. Through his memoir, Bryan provides insight into the mechanics of Nevada politics and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Silver State. A lawyer and Clark County deputy district attorney, Bryan became the first county public defender in state history in 1966. He served in the Nevada Legislature in both the Assembly and Senate before winning the statewide office of Attorney General in 1978. He was elected Nevada Governor in 1982, winning re-election in 1986. He went on to become Nevada's U.S. senator in 1988, re-elected in 1994. He retired from the Senate in 2001 and returned to Nevada. In retirement, Bryan continues to serve the state through his participation on a wide range of committees and is well-recognized for sharing his knowledge of Nevada history.

Miller's Son of a Gambling Man: My Journey from a Casino Family to the Governor's Mansion, with a forward by former President Bill Clinton, is the autobiography of Nevada's longest-serving governor. Miller rose from lawyer to justice of the peace, to Clark County district attorney, to lieutenant governor and on to follow Bryan as governor, after Bryan had resigned to become U.S. Senator in January 1989. Miller's rise from gambler's son to governor parallels the rise of Las Vegas from the small Air Force town of the 1940s that welcomed Bugsy Siegel to the sophisticated city loved by people around the world. His father Ross Miller, a one-time illegal gambler from Chicago accused of having ties to the mob and ownership interest in the Riviera, Slots-A-Fun and Circus Circus, died in 1975.

Open to all ages, the Las Vegas Book Festival, now in its 24th year, returns to Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plan to attend this free annual event held downtown at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.

A full schedule of book festival activities that includes panel discussions, book signings, arts and crafts for children and read-alongs will be shared closer to the event.

Presented by the city of Las Vegas with support from Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Clark County Parks & Recreation, the event also is supported with funding from donors and sponsors. For updates and information, visit lasvegasbookfestival.com.

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Editor's Note: Photos of 2025 headliners and book jackets are available for download at https://sftp.lasvegasnevada.gov/f/ea03e7ef47573031; no password is required. Previous book festival photos are available for download at https://cityoflasvegas.smugmug.com/event/lvbf.

About the Las Vegas Book Festival

The Las Vegas Book Festival is the largest literary event in Nevada, presented by the city of Las Vegas with support from Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Clark County Parks & Recreation, along with many sponsors and donors. This 24th annual celebration of the written, spoken and illustrated word is free and open to all ages. Through the years, the festival has presented countless well-known authors, panel discussions, readings, workshops and book signings. Topics of interest include politics, social issues, history, popular fiction, cooking and science fiction. There is something for everyone. For information, please visit lasvegasbookfestival.com . Keep up with festival news on Facebook and X (#VegasBookFest).