Book Festivals Are Back--Hurrah!
Last weekend I had a chance to dip my toe back into life as we used to know it--with two book festivals.
On Saturday I was one of the local authors invited to be part of Pumpkins and Pages, an open-air book festival sponsored by the Hoboken Public Library. Hoboken is a charming town less than 10 miles south of where I live in New Jersey and the festival took place in a large park across from the library.
Authors included mystery writers, romance writers, writers of children's books, and poets. Prose writers talked about their work and poets read their work aloud, and we all were able to meet and greet readers and sell and sign our books.
The weather was clear and bright and just warm enough to remind us that summer is not that long gone. Turnout was fabulous! It was great fun to see people strolling through the park enjoying the weather and the festivities as if Covid did not exist.
The scene on Sunday, at the Brooklyn Book Festival, was similar. This annual--and venerable--event had to skip a year because of Covid, but this year it was back in its usual spot--the Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza. And the crowds demonstrated how welcome its return was.
Mystery Writers of America always sponsors a booth, and members of that group sign up for one-hour slots to sell and sign their books at the booth. I had many nice conversations with, and sold books to, readers who paused in their strolling to investigate the MWA members' offerings.
These were both outdoor events. In the case of mystery conferences, which are indoor events, life as we used to know it might take a bit longer to return. Fingers crossed for Malice Domestic next spring.
On Saturday I was one of the local authors invited to be part of Pumpkins and Pages, an open-air book festival sponsored by the Hoboken Public Library. Hoboken is a charming town less than 10 miles south of where I live in New Jersey and the festival took place in a large park across from the library.
Authors included mystery writers, romance writers, writers of children's books, and poets. Prose writers talked about their work and poets read their work aloud, and we all were able to meet and greet readers and sell and sign our books.
The weather was clear and bright and just warm enough to remind us that summer is not that long gone. Turnout was fabulous! It was great fun to see people strolling through the park enjoying the weather and the festivities as if Covid did not exist.
The scene on Sunday, at the Brooklyn Book Festival, was similar. This annual--and venerable--event had to skip a year because of Covid, but this year it was back in its usual spot--the Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza. And the crowds demonstrated how welcome its return was.
Mystery Writers of America always sponsors a booth, and members of that group sign up for one-hour slots to sell and sign their books at the booth. I had many nice conversations with, and sold books to, readers who paused in their strolling to investigate the MWA members' offerings.
These were both outdoor events. In the case of mystery conferences, which are indoor events, life as we used to know it might take a bit longer to return. Fingers crossed for Malice Domestic next spring.
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