I love meeting fellow authors, almost as much as I love meeting readers! At the end of last month, I had the terrific opportunity to do both at the Florence Festival of Books. This annual event held in Florence, Oregon (central coast) includes so much to enjoy – new authors and seasoned ones (Philip Margolin – rock star!) And readers interested in everything from history to fiction, children’s books to sci-fi. You name it and you can find it there!
What did I enjoy most? I love the town. So much to see and do, surrounded by amazing ocean beach scenery and great restaurants. It’s a working fishing town, as the river dock area proves. Just on the other side are the amazing dunes along the peninsula jutting out into the Pacific. Pirate and I splurged on a riverfront balcony hotel room and will now never stay anywhere else in town. Love the views!
Another engaging aspect are the flocks of readers who attend. I was thrilled to meet some of my fans again! They came back and bought everything I wrote since last year! That makes my writer heart go pitta-pat! But it’s not only people who are already familiar with my books who thrill me. It’s the sheer numbers of people interested in READING. Families with children, every single one of them from the oldest adult to the youngest child with a stack of books in their arms. Readers all, encouraging new generations of readers. Who says the written word is dead?
I mentioned my fellow authors, though, and that is a big draw here. At some events, the author-author interchanges almost smack of competition. Here, it’s all supportive, friendly and interested. I know that if someone is looking for a style or genre I don’t write, I can send them to find my (new) friend at table ##, and that they will return the consideration too. We all win when more people read, when more people buy books, and these authors know it.
One of wonderful festival founders and organizers, fellow author Judy Fleagle, provided a summary of the event here at her blog. Check it out (including that fun pic of yours truly hard at work!)
And if you’re planning a trip to the central coast of Oregon at the end of next September, check out the 7th Florence Festival of Books on Sept. 29-30, 2017!
Happy reading! Yvonne
