Announcement! The winner of Maddie Day's Murder at the Taffy Shop is Cindy C! Email me at jennmck at yahoo dot com and I'll hook you two up!
Jenn McKinlay: What a thrill to attend the SW Florida Reading Festival in Fort Myers!
Such a fabulous book lover's event and so amazingly well organized! Shout out to Colleen, Jessica, Rachel, Katherine and Kathleen and all of the library workers and volunteers! Truly, it was AMAZING. I had the best time. A personal highlight was being on a panel with the fabulous Sonali Dev! If you haven't read Pride and Prejudice and Other Flavors, you should.
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| Sonali and Jenn - We did not coordinate our outfits with each other's book - I swear - but perfect, right? Other authors included: |
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| Michael Koryta, Lincoln Child, and Erik Larson |
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| Kate Messner, Sara Varon, Monica Brown, and Sara Holland |
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| and the ever fabulous William Kent Krueger. |
There were more wordsmiths but these were the only ones I could catch in the wild! LOL!
Why do I love book festivals so much? Because you get a chance to meet other authors, spend some time with your readers, and see another part of the country. I had never been to Fort Myers before, and I love it! And I will learn how to pronounce the Caloosahatchee River before I leave even if it leaves my tongue in knots!
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| Caloosahatchee River! |
And now, I am going to fly home, wash my clothes and repack them because I'm off to San Diego for Left Coast Crime. If you're in the area, come find me! I am on two panels, On Thursday, I'm on the Mystery and Romance: Two great traditions that work arm-in-arm panel with:
Elizabeth Crowens (M)
Kate Carlisle
HelenKay Dimon
Kathy Krevat
Jenn McKinlay
Elizabeth Crowens (M)
Kate Carlisle
HelenKay Dimon
Kathy Krevat
Jenn McKinlay
and on Friday, I'm on the Been There, Wrote That: The game that asks how well authors remember their own work?
Gar Anthony Haywood (M)Reed Coleman
Lee Goldberg
Jenn McKinlay
L.J. Sellers
Given that I can't even remember what I wrote this morning, this should be...uh...fun? :)
Also, our Rhys will be there, too. What's your panel line up, Rhys?
Reds and Readers, tell us, what are some of your favorite book or author festivals or events?
It sounds like you had a great time . . . thanks for sharing your wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joan. If I could have just worked in a little more beach time! Sigh...
DeleteGlad you enjoyed Florida. And I'm looking forward to seeing you at Left Coast Crime.
ReplyDeleteI'm moderating a panel! It's on Thursday afternoon, and it is focused on culinary cozies with Leslie Karst, Kaye George, GP Gottlieb, and Maya Corrigan.
That sounds fun, Mark - and awesome you are moderating!
DeleteExcellent! I will look fo your panel! Leslie Karst is a stitch!
DeleteFort Myers is where spent the month of February when I was three turning four (2-24). My father's doctor recommended he go to a warm climate for a bit for his respiratory health, so my mother and father packed up four kids and a friend of my father's (to help drive), and we spent the month of February 1958 in Fort Myers in a rented house near the beach. I was the youngest and not in school, but my three siblings had to attend school while there. It's where we went to a parade and upon seeing a Pepsi Cola float in the parade, I shouted out "Pepsi Cola hits the pot." Those who are as old as dirt like me know the slogan was actually "Pepsi Cola hits the spot."
ReplyDeleteAlso, I know quite a few people from my hometown of Maysville, KY who have winter homes there in Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. So, I think it would be a lovely place to spend some time, Jenn. I may have to time a visit to friends with that festival sometime. Have a great time at LCC, too.
My favorite event is Bouchercon, and I'm looking forward to going to Sacramento next fall. I usually try to go every other year now. I would love to get to Left Coast Crime and Malice, so maybe next year I will try one of those. I also love just single author book signings/events. I so enjoyed going to St. Louis with Lesa Holestine last fall to the London Tea Room to see Debs.
I love Bouchercon, too! I love going to tea rooms - so jealous!
DeleteI have been going to Bouchercon since 1992 and Left Coast Crime since 2000. Other book festivals have come and gone so these two are my regulars.
ReplyDeleteLCC is my favourite since it is more intimate and I usually get to travel somewhere warmer than snowy Ottawa. I am already in San Diego enjoying the sun. Looking forward to seeing both Jenn and Rhys.
Can’t wait to see you Grace!
DeleteSame here, Jenn!
DeleteI miss going to Word on the Street, the huge outdoor book festival in Toronto since moving in 2014.
Chicago also has a nice Printers Row Fest.
How fun, Jenn. I go to the Boston Book Festival every October, and have been on a SINCNE or MWANE panel a couple of times. It's such a delight to see the plaza jammed with people of all ages who love books.
ReplyDeleteYES! I've done th Tucson Festival of Books several times and it's the same feeling - book lovers everywhere!!!
DeleteDid you know there are bears in the Fort Myers/Naples area? Yes, the third largest population in the state. (The other areas are in the Everglades, and in the northern middle of the state, west of St. Augustine.) The last time we were at a national park there one of the rangers told us about the bears who kept getting into her Fort Myers garage. We had driven across the state and were blown away by the bear crossing signs. It's not all 'gators and pythons there, you know.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is mystery event is Bouchercon--although I haven't been since New Orleans, and of course Malice is grand fun. If I lived near Tucson I'd go to the Festival of Books every year, it's such a wonderful event, and not just for mystery lovers. The only other mystery reader/writer conference I've been to was Magna Cum Murder. I'd go to that again. And I've really wanted to attend Sleuthfest, since another Rhys Bowen Tuscany workshop alum goes every year. Just have not been able to make it yet.
I had NO idea! Bears???!!! I love Bouchercon, too, and if all goes well (curse you, COVID-19) I'll me going to Malice this year for the first time since 2012!
DeleteI'm signed up, Jenn, and hope we can finally meet!
DeleteKiller Nashville for me this year.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to that one!
DeleteOh, Jenn, it looks like you had so much fun. Too bad they don't record and post the panels, that would be so much fun to watch. You could give us all the links! Well, maybe in the future. Oh, and even though Paris is always a good idea, so is Florida in winter!
ReplyDeleteHave a great time in San Diego. Be sure to spend time outside, they have the best weather anywhere in the US, they claim.
San Diego is one of my fave places - I will definitely get to the beach and do some surfing! I hope!
DeleteMy favorite author's event is Louise Penny's pre launch every year because it is near home and I love her books.
ReplyDeleteI had the privilege to live two Bouchercons : Toronto and Dallas and loved both.
With the exchange rate and the cost of travelling, I can't afford a lot of events in USA.
DeleteI go to Canada every summer - I totally get it. The exchange rate is not nice :(
You are lucky. I wish I could go to Louise's book launch in Knowlton, Quebec! She does so few events in Canada.
DeleteI participated in the SW Florida Reading Festival two years ago and had a great time! It's such a lovely venue and the weather is generally perfect. Outdoor festivals(despite their potential challenges) are my favorites in any location. There is something so relaxed about meeting and greeting in a natural environment.
ReplyDeleteJenn, it's Ka Loose A Hat Chee. I live across the street from it. :)
LOL! Thank you! It's been driving me bonkers. Quite a mouthful!
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ReplyDeleteOh, what fun Jenn! And what fabulous authors! I wish I could have heard Erik Larson—his books are incredible.
ReplyDeleteWash hands.....xxx
I’ve been to several smaller book festivals, although it’s been a while. This year I hope to make it to Malice, and I’m so excited!
ReplyDeleteShalom Reds and fans. In recent years, Doylestown, PA has hosted a new event, the Bucks County Book Festival. We are very fortunate in that in our town, there is a marvelous free library, an independent bookstore, 2 used bookstores which sit side by side, and a children’s bookstore with the books scattered on the floor just as they might be in a child’s bedroom. In Doylestown, you’ll never want for something to read.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I think I boycotted the Festival last year, because they ticketed every author talk with the price of a hardcover book, which you could get signed afterward. Now, I realize that everyone needs to make a living, but I would have greatly preferred the model that the Philadelphia Flower Show uses. They charge a steep admission, but once paid, you have access to all the exhibits all day and to the lectures and presentations and then, if you choose, you can buy stuff from the many vendors which put out their wares.
I think, perhaps, our library was not one of the sponsors of the event. Perhaps for this reason. Checking online this morning, I see that they are having a meeting tomorrow evening, to try and recruit volunteers for the event which last year was held in October. I think I’ll pass. I have no problem with book signings and I go when I am really interested in a new book or author. I just feel if you’re going to block off our main thoroughfare for two days running, it should be for the most part, free for all.
Those sound like good comments David! Maybe they need you on the planning committee
DeleteI don't get to go to book festivals. I end up going to signings for the individual authors when I can.
ReplyDeleteThe most recent one was for Bruce Robert Coffin and as luck would have it Hank, Hallie, Joanna Schaffhausen, Edwin Hill and Dale T. Phillips were all in attendance at that one as well.
As for the ones I'd like to attend should I ever not have to worry about paying day to day bills: Thrillerfest, Bouchercon, Malice Domestic and New England Crimebake would top the list I'd think.
I've got some events coming up that I'll be attending though. There's a signing for Joanna Schaffhausen in early April, two Edith Maxwell signings on back to back days (one with author Christin Brecher) that I'm going to and in mid-May, Hallie will be at my town's library for an event.
I've been to only five book events. Small and intimate events with Rhys in Santa Rosa, ticketed events for Louise Penny in Santa Rosa and then I surprised myself, and everyone else, by going to Dallas last year. I enjoyed all of them. You all are going to have to work much harder if you want to disappoint me. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Jenn,jealous!! I adore Fort Meyers and have done several events there. But my favorite event is Bouchercon, and I've made a good percentage of the conferences since 1991!
ReplyDeleteLate to the party again! That daylight savings time change...lol! I just saw your photo with Sonali Dev on Instagram! Too many favorite authors! Love going to mystery conferences! So far I have been to Malice Domestic, Bouchercon and Left Coast Crime. One of these days I want to go to these book conferences (mystery /) in Scandinavian countries.
ReplyDeleteHope to see you in San Diego. it will be an half day for me.
Diana
What fun Jen! I have that Sonali dev book on my nightstand and hope to get to it soon. And maybe I could work out a way to go to this book festival next year…
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