CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Author Marc Tyler Nobleman is the latest addition to this year's West Virginia Book Festival lineup.

Nobleman is the author of more than 70 books for young people and will speak about his work at a book signing at 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at the festival at the Charleston Civic Center.

His works include "Boys of Steel" and "Bill the Boy Wonder," which tell the stories of the real heroes behind superheroes Batman and Superman -- the writers who created them.

The picture book "Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman" received multiple starred reviews, made the front page of USA Today and was one of 75 out of an eligible 6,000 to be named an American Library Association Notable Book for 2009, according to Noblemania.blogspot.com.

Nobleman will join best-selling urban fantasy novelist Charlaine Harris, best-selling teen author Tamora Pierce and Robert C. Byrd historian David Corbin at the festival set for Oct. 13 and 14.

The annual event is free and celebrates books and reading by showcasing a variety of authors and hosting book signings, workshops and lectures.

The festival is presented by The Library Foundation of Kanawha County, Inc., Kanawha County Public Library, the West Virginia Humanities Council, The Charleston Gazette and the Charleston Daily Mail.

Sponsors include The Martha Gaines and Russell Wehrle Memorial Foundation, Pam Tarr and Gary Hart, the Friends of The Library Foundation of Kanawha County and Books-A-Million.