Sunday, October 9, 2011

Duarte Festival of Authors

I'm sorry if you missed it. Hell, I'm sorry I missed it for the last eight years. It was the 9th annual Duarte Festival of Authors, aptly named because it was indeed festive and there were indeed authors--lots and lots of authors.

I wasn't able to stay all day but I was able to enjoy a lovely park, beautiful weather and table after table after table lined with books and authors galore. Galore, I tell you! I even knew some of the authors, which was exciting, because they're all celebrities to me. And I met some local writers who I hope will join us in the future as guest authors here on the old blog.

The festival, put on by the Friends of the Duarte Library, included local and nationally-known authors. I already checked the website for information about the 10th annual because I want to mark my calendar now. Nothing's posted yet but I'll be sure to let you know.

22 comments:

John Sandel said...

Next time I'm going with.

dive said...

Wow, what a fabulous day out. We have nothing like that around here; our writers' "festivals" tend to be earnest, dour affairs, held in small dark rooms. Yet another reason to want to move to California. Sigh …

Speedway said...

Yay for books in the park! I went to a mystery writers' festival last fall. It was happy and enlightening -- I never knew that so many intellectual, wordy people existed who have murder on their minds! Even better -- they were all regional folk rather than the few people whose titles we see in the book stores.

irinapictures said...

It is great to be participant. And a visitor, too.

Petrea Burchard said...

Yay! Sweetie, I think you'd like it.

Dive, I think I'd enjoy the earnest, dour affair as well, depending on the authors. It would be fun to try it at least once.

Speedway, yes! Happy and enlightening. The Duarte party included the regional people as well as a couple of national names who hail from here. A good mix.

Irina, I believe you know the feeling of being both, and you know it's my ambition.

Margo said...

It was great to see you yesterday at the Festival, Petrea! Thanks for everything!

Latino Heritage said...

I was there last year. Kind of random, but that was part of the fun.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

A nice day to be at a fair. I checked out the web site. Are you going to be attending the panel discussions?

Bellis said...

Next year, you'll be marketing your own book, which is sure to be published by then. It looks like a fun event, I wish I'd known it was outdoors. There was a similar event in a park in Toronto while I was there, and it was such fun. Were there any writers whose books are only available online? I'm wondering how they handle the marketing.

Petrea Burchard said...

It was lovely to meet you in person, Margo!

Roberta, give us more details, please, of what you mean by "random." I think I know but I'd love to have your take on it.

It was only for one day, PA (yesterday). I looked in on one of the discussions but I had very little time to stay so I can't give an opinion on what they were like.

I can't answer your question, Bellis, but there were probably about 50 writers there so my guess would be yes. As for my own book, two years is a better guess and it's not a guarantee!

Christina Schweighofer said...

Thanks for sharing this, Petrea. I'll be there next year.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a lot of fun.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Christina, welcome. Please stop by any time.

We'll go next year with John, Hiker.

Margaret said...

What a fun time. I can't believe you went without me. Wait. I was working yesterday anyway.

Petrea Burchard said...

Didn't I send you an email? I think I did. And you said you had to work. Ha! A likely excuse.

Ms M said...

Looks like a wonderful affair! Glad you were able to go.

Susan Campisi said...

It does look like fun. Next year I'm going, too.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ms. M, you're the best.

We'll take a caravan next year, Susan.

Dina said...

What, no table for you? Next year.

Petrea Burchard said...

The smiley face goes here, Dina. Thank you.

Sue said...

Look what I found.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4ORxZY7jkg

Petrea Burchard said...

That's great, Sue! Candace is not one of the authors I met there. I kind of rushed through, unfortunately. But what a good idea she had, to make a video of her visit. Authors these days have to do most or all of their own publicity, unless they're best-sellers like Steven King.