The Sixth Annal Kerrytown BookFest takes place on September 7th between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m at the Farmers's Market at North 4th and Kingsley in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "It's book heaven for a day," says Bill Hollander, BookFest President.
The schedule is here.
Along with traditional panels and signings, more esoteric subjects such as book-binding, book repair and other fine paper arts get top billing at Kerrytown this year. Tim Hollander, of Hollander's in Kerrytown, said the primary goal is "to highlight the Ann Arbor area's rich heritage in the book and printing arts." Of special note, Monique Lallier and Don Etherton, two of the world's most sought after fine binders, will be on hand. Etherton was responsible for the restoration of the original Magna Carta.
This year also pays homage to Ernest Hemingway thanks to a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council. Hemingway spent summers on the western side of the state and set many of his short stories there. The Nick Adams Stories has been selected to be read this year by more than 500 reading-related programs in Michigan. High School students have also been challenged to redesign the dust jacket of the original book and the winners will be named and awarded cash prizes during the Fest.
In addition, a broadside of the Hemingway poem, "Along With Youth" (1923) has been printed (Deep Wood Press) in a limited edition (100) for purchase. The broadside includes an original engraving by Ann Arbor artist, Jim Horton. Funds derived from this sale will finance future Kerrytown Bookfests. A special panel will feature a number of Hemingway scholars.
On the crime fiction panels will be Megan Abbott, Loren Estleman, Theresa Schwegel, Suzanne Arruda, Rob Kantner, Chris Grabenstein, Peter Leonard and some of the contributors to Detroit Noir--including its editor Eric Olsen.
Short story writers like Joe Borri, Lolita Hernandez, Dorene O'Brien and Peter Ho Davies will talk about the art of the short story. Other panels topics include science, Native-American, and African-American fiction. There is also a Children's Tent with hands-on programs and story-telling. Book dealer booths with both antiquarian and new books to peruse are fun. It's a one-day event but that one day is crammed with activity, much of it outside, at the Farmer's Market or in the Kerrytown Concert Hall.
Ann Arbor is about 30 minutes west of Detroit.
Robin and Jamie Agnew of the fabulous Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookstore are responsible for persuading many of the writers to journey to Michigan for the Fest.
If you live anywhere near the Ann Arbor area, come out to Kerrytown BookFest. I'll be signing copies of Prisoner of Memory with fellow contributor Bryon Quertermous.
And while you're in Ann Arbor, make sure you stop at Aunt Agatha's Mystery
Bookstore just a few blocks away. This is the only mystery bookstore in the state . Stop, too at Bill Hollander's shop in Kerrytown. Thanks to Bill Castanier for supplementing my information on this event.
Check out more My Town Monday posts at the wonderful Travis Erwin's blog: http://traviserwin.blogspot.com/
14 comments:
Oh, it sounds like heaven! Maybe one year I will travel again and get over that direction.
Please do!
This looks wonderful! May your book signing go well. And thank you for the link to Aunt Agatha's!
Lovely store and lovely people. Robin blogs with other industry types on a neat site. "Hey, there's a Dead Guy in My Living Room." http://heydeadguy.typepad.com/heydeadguy/
Sounds like a fabulous festival, Patti. Can't wait to hear your report next week. Good luck with your signing!
Linda
Thanks, Linda. I'm counting on my husband to buy at least three copies. Perhaps Bryon's family will help us out too.
That looks great. Guess what? My Union's conference is in Detroit next year so there is a good chance I'll be visiting your city.
Well, you're gonna come over to my house for dinner so make some time. We're fifteen minute from the downtown.
Unfortunately, southern England is too far away; but I have ordered a copy of the book, so I'll be with you in spirit. Hope it all goes realy well.
Pierre. Thanks so much. I think you will enjoy many of the stories in it. Let me know.
I lived in Ann Arbor between 1963 and 1969, and have always hoped to be able to move back. It was a great town to do things in then, and I see it still is now.
-- Steve
I always hope to move there too. Maybe we'll all end up there. It's always on that list of best places to live. Only downside, so many young face to look at all the time.
Sounds like a fun event, and with you signing books. Too bad I don't drive anymore. I used to just go whenever I wanted. I'll see if I can get a bird-sitter and check out those train schedules.
Thanks for the invite. That would be cool. You've given me another reason to look forward to the trip.
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