People Watching at the Book Festival

We come in many different shapes and sizes, and we need to support each other and our differences. Our beauty is in our differences. ~Carre Otis

The Kentucky Book Festival was great yesterday. I had a nice position for my book table in the “circle” as the helper told me when I arrived yesterday morning. My table companion was a retired pharmacist, artist, and author, Billy Parks Burton with his first novel, Turn a Blind Eye. The book was inspired by actual events in Henderson, Kentucky in the late 1940’s. Our books were much different, but we enjoyed talking together and with those who stopped by our table, for his book or for one of mine.

At the table on the other side of me was Matt Goldman, a bestselling author who had turned to writing mystery novels after a career as a playwright and Emmy Award winning television writer for Seinfeld, Ellen, and various other shows. I heard him talking about those experiences with readers. His tablemate was a writer friend, Chris Helvey. Chris is a Kentucky author who is always smiling and ready to encourage other writers. He is a founding member of the writing group, The Bluegrass Writers Coalition.

Each of us are very different in what we write and in the readers that were attracted to our books at the festival. I enjoyed not only talking about my books with readers but also listening in on conversations readers had with my neighboring authors. I heard about their books. I got to see what about our book covers and titles attracted readers.

Again our books were much different, but that’s what makes book festivals so great. Readers can find books that appeal to their particular interests.

Another fun thing about a book festival is how it’s a great place to do some people watching. The picture up top is from the book fair some years ago while it was still in Frankfort. I didn’t take a picture yesterday, but the aisles between the tables were never as crowded as they were in that old picture. At one time Mr. Burton commented that there were more volunteers than attendees. But after that, more readers streamed in to keep the day busy with book talking.

As I did my people watching in between talking to readers about my stories, I loved seeing how people come in all shapes and sizes. Some tall. Some short. Some slim. Some not. Some were dressed up. Most were not. Some wore sweaters and coats. Some wore shorts and were fanning themselves with the program brochure. Some had long hair and some short. Some had no hair at all. Some looked as if they were well to do. Others looked as if they might be spending their lunch money on books. A person can come to conclusions about people they see and be completely wrong about things like that based on appearances only.

The various shirts people wore were fun to see too. Some wore shirts that advertised they loved reading. Some had ghosts and pumpkins on their shirts. One girl had on a Christmas shirt and said that was fine since it was November. I think she’ll be putting up a Christmas tree soon. And being in Lexington, KY, I spotted a lot of Kentucky Wildcat shirts.

There were all ages from senior citizens to teens to babies. One of the neatest things about the book festival this year and the last couple of years is that each child got a coupon for a free book. I think some of those kids had a hard time choosing. But then plenty of adults had a hard time choosing as well.

That about all ages being there was also true for the authors. One proud mother and father came by my table and said their twelve-year-old daughter was there as an author. So the diversity in age, background, appearance, and interests wasn’t only among the readers but also the authors.

We don’t need a melting pot in this country, folks. We need a salad bowl. In a salad bowl, you put in the different things. You want the vegetables – the lettuce, the cucumbers, the onions, the green peppers – to maintain their identity. You appreciate differences. ~Jane Elliot

One thing the authors behind the tables of books and the people streaming past those tables had in common was how we love books. And you know what? I’m just now thinking about how rarely I saw anyone looking at their phones except to take a picture of an author or their books to help them remember the ones that interested them.

“There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude.” ― W. Clement Stone

The difference between all of us yesterday was made less by our love of holding a book in our hands and reading. That makes me think about one of the books on my book table yesterday, Along a Storied Trail.  That book is all about the love of books and storytelling.

What is it about reading that keeps you reaching for a new book?