Fantasy, mystery, romance, literary fiction, supernatural, self-help, children’s or young adult: no matter what you’re looking for in books, you’ll find something to your liking at the Crozet Book Fest October 26 in downtown Crozet. But the event offers a lot more than the chance to pick out a book: talks and activities throughout downtown will enable readers to meet authors, hear what they have to say, discuss the literary topics that interest them most, and have some fun.
Flannery Buchanan and Chelsea Powers are the owners of Bluebird & Company, sponsor of the book fest. Buchanan said that every time the shop hosts an author event, she wishes more people could get to know the authors, many of them local, and appreciate the quality and variety of work being published today. “I just wanted to get more eyes on books,” she said. And, as with the holiday fair Bluebird sponsors, a secondary objective is to introduce potential customers to local businesses, which will serve as sites for authors and readers to discuss writing, examine moments of great insight, encourage spiritual enrichment, or present stories and conversation around common literary themes.
Book lovers who can’t wait for Saturday can gather at Starr Hill that Friday evening at 5 p.m. for a special trivia session to test their book knowledge.
To kick off the Saturday events, young readers can gather at the Mudhouse at 9 a.m. to decorate pumpkin cookies baked by Crozet’s Jacklyn Shaeffer, while children’s author Hannah Barnaby reads The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret. Barnaby will also be around later in the day for more sweets: She’ll moderate a session, “Ghost Stories & S’mores” at the Yellow Mug at 2 p.m. Both events are free, but need RSVPs so organizers can make sure no one runs out of cookies or marshmallows.
Most successful writers are avid readers, and many readers harbor a desire to someday write and publish their own work. Anyone in that category will find plenty of advice by attending the panel “So You Want to be a Writer” at 10 a.m. at Bar Botanical. Authors Bruce Holsinger, Jo Piazza, and Elle Cosimano will answer questions from the audience.
A time-honored theme—some would say the only real theme––in literature is when the author chronicles when and why their life, or the lives of their characters, took a turn that altered the future forever. Authors Audrey Ingram, Sarah Read, Rachel McRady and Johanna Copeland will discuss “Sliding Doors: The Moments that Made You” at Bar Botanical at noon.
In today’s fractured world, some thoughtful writers remind us of the importance of empathy. Jeffrey Dale Lofton, Jody Hobbs Hessler, Kathleen Grissom and Kalela Williams will discuss building empathy at the Mudhouse at 1:30 p.m. They’ll be in conversation with Kirsten Gelsdorf, the director of global humanitarian policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership at U.Va.
Some of our best local writers turn their formidable intelligence to fantasy, a genre that challenges mundane ideas about human potential, non-human interference, and the landscape of the future. In “Charlottesville Fantastic,” readers will find a city that’s not quite the one they think they know. The tour will be led by fantasy authors James Blakey, Tim Freer, Kurt Johnson, Deidra Whitt Lovegren, Karen Kumor and Catherine Simpson at 2:30 p.m. at Mudhouse Coffee.
Mystery authors and fans love to discuss the intricate details of hiding their villains’ nefarious deeds. Best undetectable poisons? Ways to dispose of the body? How to get rid of the weapon? Tips for writing whodunits, drawing room mysteries and procedurals will be shared at “Planning the Perfect Murder” by mystery writers Olivia Blacke, Elle Cosimano, Katherine Schellman and Polly Stewart at the Mudhouse at 3:30 p.m.
At the end of the day, authors and readers can gather at Starr Hill to propose passages to be read by professional audio book narrator Marnie Penning. You’ll find all the included authors’ books for sale, and refreshments from a food truck. Gather at 5 p.m. for this event.
Find updated information and a complete schedule at the website bluebirdcrozet.com, and below.
