Recap: Alpena Book Festival

It was great! Good weather, great fans, knowledgeable authors, and wonderful downtown businesses, especially our sponsors: Blue Phoenix Books, Olivet Book & Give, and the George M. Fletcher Library!
But I won't tell you: I'll show you!

 Volunteers make an event, and we had some great ones, including S-in-Law Julie and her niece Skyla, who took these pics.

 Other helpers P.J. & Kaylee had a bit of trouble with tangled balloons.

 Loved what Allen & Goel Marketing Company did with the tote bags.

 Author Elizabeth Buzzelli shares a laugh with a fan.

 Bob of Bob's Bullpen demonstrates some facets of graphic arts.

 "My Favorite Book" tree

 Love to see a kid enjoying a book!

Panel at Blue Phoenix Books: What Makes a Genre, and Which Ones Do You Read?
l to r: Christine Johnson, Connie Doherty, P.J. Coldren, Laura Kolar, Chris Chagnon

 Signing for Clarence, a voracious reader and nice man.

 Author Susan Froetschel with a new fan.

.Work station for Bill & Diane Speer, who did ALL the registration for the Festival. Thank you!

 Chanda Stafford & Laura Kolar hosted the YA segment...

...and look what they got? I shoulda volunteered for that one. I'd like to thank the bakers at the cupcake shop, but sadly, I don't remember the name!!

 Before the Nonfiction panel at Art in the Loft: Mark Thompson, Tedd Galloway, Delores Liesner, & Elaine Stenger

The Long Conversation was an experiment, but it worked out well. Authors came and went for three hours, and discussion meandered through a series of topics related to reading, writing, publishing, and promoting books.

Saturday, Sept. 26: Alpena Book Festival

Welcome to the Alpena Book Festival!

All visitors who register for the ABF will receive a free Passport. At each panel or participating business they visit, they’ll get a stamp on their Passport. A completed Passport (10 stamps) enters the visitor into a drawing for baskets of prizes donated by authors, publishers, and Downtown businesses.

Visitors who donate to READ* ($10.00 suggested donation) receive a tote bag filled with books and other freebies. Tickets found in the tote bags can be used to enter drawings for additional prize baskets. Tickets can be purchased separately, but the tote bags are a great deal.

Sessions listed below are open to all, but space might be limited. All sessions run 50 minutes, leaving 10 minutes to get to the next one. Authors will return to the bookstore that has their books after their sessions to meet readers and sign.

10:00

Panel discussion: Stories That Inspire-Olivet Book & Gift

Panelists: Christine Johnson/Zachary Bartels/Delores Liesner/Tedd Galloway/Jenna Mindel

Inspirational books are reader favorites: great stories, great characters, and a sense that with the right outlook, the world isn’t such a terrible place.

Panel discussion: The Allure of Mysteries-Blue Phoenix Books

Panelists: PJ Parrish/ Dan Ames/ Elizabeth Buzzelli/ Susan Froetschel/ Douglas Cameron

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Join 5 excellent mystery writers to discover how they devise those deadly plots!

Children’s Program-Alpena Public Library (10:00-12:00)

Children of elementary school age will be entertained at the library with book-related activities.

11:00

Panel discussion: Non-fiction: Real Books-Art in the Loft

Panelists: Mark Thompson/Elaine Stenger/Tedd Galloway/Delores Liesner

They say truth is stranger than fiction. These authors tell stories they didn’t make up: stories of things that really happened.

Panel discussion: Exotic Times, People, & Locales-Olivet Book & Gift

Panelists: Susan Froetschel/ Peg Herring/Pegg Thomas

Other times and places fascinate readers. Join these authors who write about them and learn how they research to get it right and write it to pull you in.

10:00-12:00

Pitch Advice (15 minute sessions)-Cabin Creek Coffee Meeting Room

Some of our panelists have agreed to meet with aspiring writers and talk with them about their work and how to present it to agents and editors in order to grab that publishing contract.

NOTE: You must register for these sessions before the Festival. Call or email Blue Phoenix Books to set up an appointment

READ is the Alpena Library’s adult literacy program, promoting communication development among those who face reading challenges.

12:00-3:00

The Long Conversation-Thunder Bay Winery Meeting Room

Join the authors for an informal discussion of books, writing, reading, and publishing. We’re sure the Winery won’t mind if you buy yourself one of their wonderful wines as you chat.

1:00

Panel discussion: Creating Memorable Characters-Blue Phoenix Books

Panelists: Connie Doherty/Christopher Chagnon/Zachary Bartels/Colleen Nye

Readers often argue about whether plot or character is more important in creating beloved books. These authors discuss how they create characters you love—or love to hate.

YA Session: The Many Current Choices for Young Adult Readers-As You Wish

Session leaders: Chanda Stafford/Laura Kolar

Dark or sunny, romantic or adventurous, realistic or fantastical: Writers today offer readers “in the middle” some great choices. Join our YA authors to talk about books and get some for free!

2:00

Q& A Session: Comics & Graphic Arts-Bob’s Bullpen

Join owner Bob LeFevre to learn about comics, drawing, and working in the field.

Panel discussion: Local History-Alpena Public Library

Marjorie Brandenburg/Tuffy & Bonnie Cross/ Deloris Law/Gerald Micketti/John Porter/Janet Young

What makes Michigan such a wonderful place to read about? The history, the land features, the people—and more.

What Makes a Genre, & Which One Do You Read?-Blue Phoenix Books

Panelists: P.J. Coldren/Christopher Chagnon/Connie Doherty/Laura Kolar/Christine Johnson

Genres, subgenres—what are they? When you look for a book, it helps to know what the industry calls what you like. Are you a cozy person or a noir fan? We’ll help you figure it out.

3:00

Panel discussion: Series: Continuing the Story-Olivet Book & Gift

Panelists: Peg Herring/PJ Parrish/Dan Ames/Elizabeth Buzzelli/Douglas Cameron

Writers of series face unique problems: keeping it fresh, allowing for characters’ life changes, and even killing off characters (but never the dog!)

Panel discussion: Romance between the Pages - Alpena Library

Panelists: Chanda Stafford/, Pegg Thomas/ Jenna Mindel/Colleen Nye/Angela Aaron

Stormy courtships, intriguing secrets, happy ending--romance is a wildly popular genre with a wide range of heat levels. Join these romance authors for a run-down, from sweet to Oh My!

4:00

Poetry Slam-Fresh Palate

Come and hear the Alpena area’s creative types read their work!

Panel discussion: Publishing in 2015-Alpena Library

Panelists: P.J. Coldren/Elaine Stenger/Mark Thompson/Angela Aaron

What does it take to sell books at this point in time? In some ways it’s easier than ever. In others, it’s much harder.

 5:00 Drawings for many wonderful prize baskets with gifts from downtown stores and books from visiting authors and their publishers.