SBF Presents: Conversation with SBF Board Member Bradd Siegel

Savannah Book Festival Board Member Bradd Siegel reflects on his time with the Festival. Before moving to Savannah, Bradd lived in Ohio and was a partner in a large Columbus-based law firm. While in Columbus, Bradd served on the Board of BalletMet, Columbus’s professional ballet company, and was a Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation and The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He also taught Labor and Employment Law at Capital University Law School. Bradd is a graduate of Cornell University, The National Law Center, George Washington University, and Georgetown University Law Center.

SBF: When did you join the SBF Board of Directors?  

Bradd: I joined the Board in 2023.

SBF: How long have you been attending SBF? 

Bradd: My wife Kathi and I have been attending the Festival since 2014, after moving to Savannah from Columbus, Ohio. Quite a few of our friends from The Landings have been active supporters of the Festival for many years, and we wanted to do our part to promote and contribute to its continuing success.

 SBF: What is your favorite element of SBF?

Bradd: We think it is one of the best things about Savannah. We are always excited to attend the Headliners presentations and to attend as many different author sessions as we can on Festival Saturday. The quality and variety of presenters makes our Festival truly special.

SBF: Do you have an unforgettable moment with an author from the 2026 Festival?

Bradd: Among my favorites presentations was Stacey Abrams’ discussion at the 2026 Festival of her most recent novel, Coded Justice, which revolves around an AI going rogue and the moral and policy ramifications of AI. As a former trial lawyer, I was also greatly interested to meet Scott Turow when he spoke at the Festival the prior year. In fact, I confessed to him that I had shamelessly— and pretty successfully—stolen some of the his cross examination techniques during my career. 

SBF: What is your go-to genre? What are you currently reading?

Bradd: I am a great fan of book series. I enjoy getting to know the characters over an extended period of time and in a depth not possible otherwise. For example, I recently finished the ninth novel of Adrian Westbrooke’s Nicholas Cruwys Naval Series, following the life and career of a British Naval officer during the Napoleonic period; the ninth novel in Philip Gwynn’s Jones’ Nathan Sunderland Series, revolving around a British Honorary Consul in current day Venice who gets reluctantly involved in a number of mysterious deaths; and the latest Gabriel Allon Series by Daniel Silva. However, I also try to read the newest and best stand-alone novels, having just finished The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett and Whistler by Ann Patchett.

SBF: What does SBF mean to you?

Bradd: The Book Festival is a wonderful opportunity to interact with some of the best authors around, friends, and other attendees who love to read.  It also is a great opportunity to showcase Savannah as a progressive and stimulating place to live.