Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban is not just a writer but also an actor and a director. He has appeared in such films as “Midnight Cowboy,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Catch-22.” He also produced the Robert Altman film “Gosford Park” in 2001, for which he received an Oscar nomination for best picture. His books include “Beware of Dog” and “Good Dog,” both part of the McGrowl series. His new book is “The Creature from the Seventh Grade: Boy or Beast” (Penguin/Viking Juvenile).

Previous National Book Festival Appearances

• 2012