At 71, Ridley Pearson has been to Disney parks 31 times and on the Mouse’s cruise ships 11 times.

He still looks forward to visiting parks in Shanghai and Japan. But for him, it’s not some weird, grown-up obsession with twirling teacups or selfies with Cinderella.

It’s legit research on how Disney parks work after dark and behind the scenes. And he’s not bored yet.

“If anything, I get energized by the Disney work,” Pearson, formerly of Town and Country, says from his home in Idaho.

Pearson has written several series focused on Disney’s worlds, calling them kind of like “The Babysitters Club” for him. He cried when he ended his “Kingdom Keepers” series about Disney because he’d watched his characters grow up and have their own kids.

Now, those children will be in a new, illustrated series for readers in second to fourth grade. “It’s really fun,” he says. The Magical Maps series won’t go on sale until 2025. In the first book, his Disney research helps convey how animatronics on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride start moving all on their own during the night.

People are also reading…

Pearson’s enthusiasm for Disney and books is contagious, and likely children will catch it when he’s the keynote speaker Sept. 13 for the second Missouri Book Festival in downtown Washington, Missouri.

He’ll be at the theater at 7 p.m. at Washington High School. He’s expecting to talk to families about how he crafts stories and how much they mean to him.

As the author of over 60 novels, he says he doesn’t really have hobbies, he “just writes.” And along with books for kids, he’s written dozens of thrillers for adults and achieved stardom with humorist Dave Barry for their novel series, “Peter and the Starcatchers.”

That book was made into a Tony-award-winning play, and Pearson has also co-created a musical for high school students and community theaters. (He’d like Stages or the Repertory Theatre to bring “Steel Trapp” to St. Louis and see what they could make of it.)

And even though he’s been writing for 50 years, it’s not just a walk in the park for Pearson. Every book is edited and rewritten several times. Sometimes editors suggest reorganizations, and Pearson is enough of a professional that he just says, “I can try it.”

So his visit Friday will make it clear to young potential authors that the first draft is usually only that — a draft.

Other authors at the Missouri Book Festival likely also know the work a good book takes. There will be writers of both fiction and nonfiction, cookbook authors, illustrators and poets.

In addition, there will be costumed characters, a theater production, Civil War reenactors, professional wrestling and a live talk by “Mark Twain.”

10 a.m. Paige Hulsey and illustrator Manuel Herrera introduce “A Fun Book” for children, with a drawing demo.

10:15 a.m. Doughnut-making instructions from Rachel Wyman and her book “Will Run for Doughnuts.”

10:15 a.m. “The Nutcracker and the 1904 World’s Fair” performance with Ballet 314.

10:15 a.m. Comic book illustrator David Gorman helps the audience collaborate on a comic concept and create a cover design.

11:30 p.m. Learn how to make Kansas City burnt ends with chef Mathew Unger and Porcshe Moran Murphy, authors of “Missouri Comfort.”

11:45 p.m. “Mark Twain Live!” with actor Peter Lebrón.

Noon Chelsea Tornetto reads her picture book “Gardens Are for Growing,” plus a craft activity.

Noon Graphic novelist Kristen Kiesling explores ethical choices in “Who Lives, Who Dies?,” a session especially for teens.

12:45 p.m. More cooking, this time with crepes, featuring Anne Carpenter and Tara Smith.

12:45 p.m. Kathleen Boswell portrays Laura Ingalls Wilder after the author moved to Missouri in 1894.

12:45 p.m. Laura Stewart Schmidt talks about the writing process and how the “eraser is more important than the pencil.”

12:45 p.m. A celebration of wildlife in an animal program by Wonders of Wildlife.

1:30 p.m. Circus Harmony exhibits its circus acts.

1:30 p.m. Greg Olson, author of “Indigenous Missourians,” discusses the state’s native population.

2 p.m. Soccer panel led by author Dave Langue includes former player Ty Keough, St. Louis City radio personality Joey Zanaboni and Washington Soccer Academy’s director Sarah Lough.

2:15 p.m. Desideria Mesa, author of “Bindle Punk Bruja,” discusses themes in her work.

2:45 p.m. Andy Hahn, director of the Campbell House Museum, discusses his new book, “Mapping St. Louis: A History of the Gateway City in 40 Rare Maps.”

4 p.m. Poetry Slam accepts reservations online.

4 p.m. Friends of Aaron Jazz Combo plays classics.

4:30 p.m. author Jan Jacobi discusses his young adult books “Young Lincoln” and “Lincoln in Sprinfield.”

Stay up-to-date on what's happening

Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!