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Monday, October 30, 2006

Salt Lake City Book Festival, Part Two

I was a bit hesitant about going to the festival this year because the list of authors was not drawing me. My mother and I have attended this event for the past three years, so it was a fun tradition that I didn't want to see end. Finally, we decided to go. My sister and daughter decided to join us, which made it even more fun. Once in Salt Lake another daughter and a niece joined us. The company was great.

Friday night there was only one presentation - Ken Jennings of Jeopardy fame. We were all lukewarm about attending, but enjoyed Jennings very much. He's a Utahn who has recently had his first book published, Brainiac, Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs. Here's a couple of excerpts from the inside flap of the jacket: "Whisking us from the coffeehouses of seventeenth-century London to the Internet age, Jennings chronicles the ups and downs of the trivia fad." "Jennings also investigates the shadowy demimonde of today's trivia subculture, guiding us on a tour of trivia hotspots across America." All the chapter headings are written as questions. He signed my book, "Who is Ken Jennings?" Cute, huh?

Saturday I attended the following sessions:
Peter Brown, author and illustrator of children's books. I bought and had him sign Chowder and Flight of the Dodo. Both books are fabulous.
Lawrence Yep, author of nearly 60 YA books. I bought Dragon's Gate for my daughter. Yep signed it and etched a little picture on the title page.
Tracie Morris, poet. This session was interesting. Morris read a few poems and also performed some of her sound poems. I wasn't extremely fond of her stuff, but I was happy to be exposed to something so innovative as sound poetry.
Janet Tashijan, author of YA fiction. She is a high-energy person, who talked fast and fidgeted a lot while sitting. She wrote True Confessions which was later made into a Disney TV movie.
Karl & Anne Taylor Fleming, journalists. Karl covered stories such as the Watts riots and Martin Luther King. Anne told a little about her first interview which was with Truman Capote.
Shannon Hale, author of Princess Academy, Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets. This was the one person I really wanted to hear. We got seats on the front row and were also first in line for book signings. She was delightful and very funny. She told about her adult novel coming out in the spring. It's about a woman who can't get passed her infatuation with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth. I can't remember the title. Good grief! But it sounds funny.

In addition to the Festival, we ate at delectable restaurants and were joined by family members who lived in or close to Salt Lake. Lots of good times and memories.

19 comments:

Framed said...

You'll have to read Katie's comments on Alyson's blog. It will explain why you can't remember. Thanks again for letting me tag along. It was a great time.

Bookfool said...

My son would have moved mountains to see Lawrence Yep - one of his favorite authors. He reads and rereads Yep's books.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you met a lot of interesting people. Let us know how your daughter likes Dragon's Gate.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad Shannon Hale didn't disappoint. I also think I'd like to read the new adult novel...Colin Firth is an excellent Mr. Darcy, and the premise sounds so funny.

You and your family have an excellent tradition!

Anonymous said...

It was a great time, and I definitely plan on attending next year. I wasn't too overly excited about it this year, but it turned out to be a very good time. Count me in on the tradition; and don't let it be one of those traditions that falls by the wayside now that I'm back in Utah (i.e. New Years Eve) :).

Also, the title of Shannon Hale's adult novel is Austenland.

Anonymous said...

Hi, booklogged!

I loved reading about your trip to the SLC book festival, sounds like a good time was had by one and all. I remember Ken Jennings, how fun you were able to meet him and have your book signed by him!

I would have liked to have listened to Karl and Anne Taylor Fleming speak - imagine covering the Martin Luther King events, it gives me goosebumps!

So glad you enjoyed the Shannon Hale reading, I must keep a lookout for her books.

Anonymous said...

Oh what fun! I got back from a book festival this weekend too. I'm curious about this sound poetry. Must look into that. And, the Shannon Hale novel sounds like it could be hilarious! Will have to keep an eye out for that one.

Anonymous said...

It's me again, booklogged!

The doorbell just rang, it was a courier with an amazon package in his hand - it was the prize I won at your BAFAB event, Kiran Desai's "The Inheritance of Loss". Needless to say, I was so excited! :) I just started a new book yesterday, but I should get to the Desai book in the next couple of weeks. A BIG,BIG thank you from me to you!

Booklogged said...

Framed, Katie's comment was rather rude, wasn't it? It does explain things, though.

Bookfool, Yep was entertaining and told a couple of good stories. I'm anxious to read one of his books.

Christina, I'll probably read Dragon's Gate before my daughter does. I'll let you know what I think.

Jenclair, It was too bad the Louisiana book festival wasn't on an open weekend for you. Next year, maybe.

Alyson, thanks for providing the name of Hale's novel. I'm glad you'll be going with us for the whole thing next year.

Lotus, while the Flemings were presenting I kept thinking, "These atrocities happened in my lifetime. I remember when African Americans were treated so poorly." It's comforting to know that in some cases progress is being made. I'm so glad you're book finally arrived.

Iliana, I hope you'll be telling us about your book festival. Hearing about books so many months ahead of time is not always a good thing. I want to go check it out NOW!

Heather said...

I've been dying to try Shannon Hale. I have several on hold at the library, but there is a waiting list. Her new adult book sounds good as well, I looooved Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Yum!

Library Mama said...

I'm so glad you had a great time - but I knew you would!

Happy Halloween!

hellomelissa said...

it sounds great! not to mention that salt lake city is one of the most beautiful cities have ever been to.

Myke Weber said...

Soooo glad you all had such a great time! I even got some books out of the deal!

Anonymous said...

Booklogged,
Thanks for the comment regarding Maureen's review of March.
Just an FYI - you can find out about the National Book Festival that Maureen from The Written Word attended by clicking on Book Events in the Categories section of the sidebar! Stephanie

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun; so glad you had a good time! I really like Ken Jennings, cool how he signed the book :) We love trivia in our house and I thought he was coming out with a book. Must look for it the next time I go to the bookstore (do you like it?)

Have a great day!

Booklogged said...

Heather, my favorites of Shannon Hale are Princess Academy and Goose Girl.

Library Mama, thanks for the well wishes. I usually get annoyed when I'm trying to get something done and the trick or treaters ring the doorbell, but this year I just watch cooking shows and didn't grumble. Hope you had a nice Halloween, too.

Hello, Melissa, Salt Lake really is a beautiful city. Somehow living nearby for so many years I don't always appreciate it like I do cities I travel long distances to see.

Myke, hope you enjoy your books as much as you did your free time.

Stephanie, thanks for the directions to Maureen's National Book Festival post. I joked with my mother that we should forgo the SLC one and fly to DC instead. Would be such fun.

Stacy, We're quite the trivia game family, too. I haven't read Jennings' book yet, but have thumbed through it and it looks like an informative, fun read.

Carl V. Anderson said...

Shannon Hale is a wonderful author and I love her blog. I'm jealous that you got to attend! I believe the title of the book you were referring to is Austenland.

The Traveller said...

Sounds like you had a lot of fun! You certainly managed to pack a lot of events into a short period of time!

Booklogged said...

Thank-you,Carl. Austenland - doesn't it sound like a fun book? I can't wait to read it.

Traveller, we were at the library from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm. It was a long day, but there were a few breaks. The library has a nice little coffee shop that had wraps and the best raspberry chocolate mouse cake so we did get lunch.