By LEAH WEATHERSBY

After seven years it's ours, all ours.

The eighth annual Northwest Bookfest will not take place in a downtown location such as a pier, the Convention Center or the Stadium Exhibition Center as it has in previous years. This time, those authors, books and workshops are headed straight for Sand Point for a whole weekend, Oct. 19 and 20. It's time to take our noses out of books - but only long enough to discuss them.

So just how did North Seattle get so lucky?

Nicole Turgeon, director of programming for the Northwest Bookfest, said when they asked authors, exhibitors, volunteers and book fans who participate in the event which of the past festival venues was the best, the answer was the festival's original location: Pier 48.

Apparently people felt that such a setting really put the "Northwest" in Northwest Bookfest. But that venue was impossible. The festival left the pier in the first place because it had been condemned, and holding it at the Stadium Exhibition Center (the most recent location) proved difficult because of scheduling constraints.

Fortunately, Turgeon said, they found the perfect Northwest setting at Sand Point Magnuson Park. It may not offer a view of Puget Sound like Pier 48 did, but Lake Washington will certainly do.

Another change this year: Bookfest bus service. Turgeon said there will likely be a couple of shuttle buses to Northwest Bookfest that will pick people up and drop them off and local bookstores.

Of the 250 writers and presenters coming to the festival, some can practically walk to the event, thanks to their being North Seattle residents.

Locals appearing at this year's Northwest Bookfest include David Shields, a Wallingford resident and author of several books including "Dead Languages" and "Black Planet: Facing Race During an NBA Season," Charles Cross, author of "Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain " and longtime editor of the now-defunct Rocket newspaper.

Another highlight: Rick Steves, whose television show, "Europe Through the Back Door" appears on KBTC, will give two presentations on traveling on Sunday, Oct. 20. (Steves is also a Washington resident.)

There is one sad change at Northwest Bookfest this year: most of the donations made at the door that used to go to support literacy programs will now help pay for the festival itself. Turgeon said like everything in a recession, contributions to the event are down. "We're really hoping it's a temporary fix, " Turgeon said.

Event sponsors include Barnes & Noble, the Breneman Jaech Foundation, HomeStreet Bank, the King County Arts Commission, Pacific Northwest Bookseller's Association, the Seattle Arts Commission, University Bookstore, University of Washington Press, the Washington State Arts Commission and Wizards of the Coast.

An estimated 30,000 people are expected to attend this year's Northwest Bookfest. The event is being produced by an independent, nonprofit organization. The festival will be open both days from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sand Point Magnuson Park is located at 7400 Sand Point Way NE. Although admission is free, a $5 donation is suggested.

For details, call 378-1883 or visit www.nwbookfest.org.