Skip to main content

St. George Book Festival Recap

It's Saturday October 19th and the St. George area community begins making its way into the Lexington Hotel Ballroom. It's still early as authors are setting up their tables to greet, talk and sign books for eager lovers of the written word...and it's only 9am. The day is just beginning. David W. Smith and VS Grenier welcome those who have begun to show up. It's time to get the Book Expo underway and all the exciting events Smith and Grenier have planned for the day.

Guest speaker John Sebba shares some poetry with our gathered audience before winners of the 2013 Youth Poetry is announced.

Author and poet Lin Floyd steals the show as she announces the 2013 Youth Poetry winners. Many of the winners are present to not only receive their award, but also to read their poems to all in attendance.

Now for a bit of fun. David W. Smith and VS Grenier have added another fun treat to the St. George Book Festival this year beyond the Charity Dinner Friday Night (Oct. 18th) and combining the Youth Poetry Contest. Not only did all those who attended the book festival receive a free goodie bag when they entered, but they also found a FREE...
raffle ticket inside. Not to mention for every book bought at the book festival gave you a voucher for 5 more raffle tickets. Those from the community that came learned raffle drawings will be happening every 20 minutes and prized ranged from signed books from the guest authors/speakers at the 2013 book festival to movie tickets or from $25 dollar gift cards to Outback Stakehouse to day passes at the Washington Community Center. Let the fun begin!

We next had the opportunity to listen to some amazing talent from our very own Vista School. Mr. Nicols did a wonderful job bring in talent from choir, to the piano and four string quartette.


As the music and talent filled the room, soon our community found it was standing room only. We all felt the energy. We all found a little something new and no one left without something in hand.

Now it was time to once again share some words of wisdom and the love of the written word. Carolyn Howard-Johnson not only addressed those who have been published, want to be published, but also those who have a story to tell...and that is everyone.

After listening to Carolyn share her thoughts and wishes for those attending the book festival it was time once again to roam the room, talk to authors and learn about some newly release (and not so newly released) books. The St. George area community found over 30 authors waiting to share, talk and sign books.





As the day came to an end, everyone was ready to go home, put their feet up and relax. It was a packed day from beginning to end. Now to rest up, take note of the few suggestions and comments given, relook at how thing played out and plan for next year.

VS Grenier and David W. Smith
co-chairs of the St. George Book Festival







Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SPECIAL WORLD OF INK NETWORK SHOW 09/07 by WorldOfInkNetwork | Blog Talk Radio

Join Marsha Cook and V S Grenier on  September 7- 10AM PST 11AM EST NOON PST 1PM EST as they welcome Barbara Rogan. Barbara has had an incedible career and she is still doing so many things to help writers. This is going to be a great show that will be both entertaing and very informative. BARBARA began her publishing career with Fawcett Books before moving to Israel. One year later she established the Barbara Rogan Literary Agency, which specialized in representing American and European publishers and agents for Hebrew-language rights. With a few years the agency had become the largest in the country, supplying over 60% of the large Israeli market for translated books. During this period Barbara served on the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem Book Fair. Her first novel, Changing States , was published simultaneously in England, the U.S., and Israel. Shortly after its publication, she sold the literary agency and returned to New York.  Since then she’s pub...

Interview Friday with Award-winning Children's Author Donna McDine

Donna McDine is an award-winning children’s author . Her stories, articles and book reviews have been published in over 100 print and online publications. Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing "The Golden Pathway ." She writes, moms and is a personal assistant from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Children’s Literature Network and Family Reading Partnership. VS: What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life? Donna: I try my best to write when my family is off doing their “thing” and then meditate for 10-15 minutes prior to their return so I’m refreshed for them. VS: How long have you been writing? Donna: Since 2007 VS: What is a typical writing day like for you? Donna: No day is the same. I grab my writing time when I get it. Whether 15 minutes or 30 minutes at a time. As many authors we hold full time or part time jobs an...

Award-winning Author Mayra Calvani joins the Stories for Children Publishing February ‘11 World of Ink Tour

For Immediate Release Award-winning Author Mayra Calvani joins the Stories for Children Publishing February ‘11 World of Ink Tour   Stories for Children Publishing will be touring Award-winning author Mayra Calvani’s latest children’s book, “Frederico the Mouse Violinist” and her other books all month long in February 2011. You can find Mayra Calvani’s World of Ink Author/Book Tour schedule at http://storiesforchildrenpublishing.com/MayraCalvani . There will be giveaways, reviews, interviews, and guest posts. Make sure to stop by and interact with Mayra Calvani and the hosts at the different stops by leaving comments and/or questions. Calvani will be checking in throughout the tour. Mayra Calvani is an award-winning author who writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. She’s a reviewer for The New York Journal of Books and co-editor of Voice in the Dark ezine. She's had over 300 reviews, interviews, stories, and articles published in print and online. Mayra is ...