The book publishing business may be drowning in the Internet tsunami, but book festivals are still bobbing in the waters like buoys. And proliferating. One such newcomer is Atlanta’s Queer Literary Festival, which begins Tuesday .

The festival grew out of a poetry reading that Atlanta poet Franklin Abbott had organized in 2006 to complement the exhibit “Out at the Library: Celebrating the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center” when it was shown at the Atlanta Fulton Public Library downtown. Its success got Richard Cruce, manager of special collections at AFPL, to thinking about the potential of a yearly event. He told Abbott he would provide seed money to mount a festival. So began what Abbott believes is the only book festival devoted to gay and lesbian authors and subjects in the Southeast.

The inaugural event last year featured 30 local writers. This year the organizers have doubled the number of participants and expanded the scope to include national writers. The six-day fest also includes workshops and a play.

A few highlights:

> Poet Mark Doty will give a reading and conduct public workshops at Emory University.

> Preview of “Skin Deep,” New York playwright Rich Orloff’s comedy about a straight couple who inherit the Godiva Inn, a clothing-optional resort in Key West, from a gay relative.

> Alex Sanchez, author of books for young adults, will give a reading and two student workshops.

> Atlanta spoken word artists Theresa Davis and Yolo.

Though the festival has garnered additional sponsors, it’s a shoestring operation.

“With a budget of $3,000, we rely on the enthusiasm and kindness of writers, many of whom are coming at their own expense,” fest director Abbott said.

He notes that neither the participant list nor the audience is limited by sexual orientation.

“All of our events are open to everyone,” he said. “The only requirement is a love for literature.”

EVENT PREVIEW

Queerlit Fest. Tuesday-Oct. 19. All events are free except for the play, which costs $10. The play is performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta, 470 Candler Park Drive. For complete listing of events: www.atlqueerlitfest.blogspot.com.