One of the things I’m really liking about retirement is the way time has opened up for me. During those decades when I had a full-time job, with a 40+ hour workweek (not to mention raising four children), and a prescribed amount of paid vacation time, I always had to think twice about whether I could
afford to take off a day, or a part of a day, to do some other activity. If I do such and such, will I have enough hours left for a week at the beach? For holiday time? And so on. What a pleasure to now have time that feels more my own.
afford to take off a day, or a part of a day, to do some other activity. If I do such and such, will I have enough hours left for a week at the beach? For holiday time? And so on. What a pleasure to now have time that feels more my own.
This past week I took some of that time to attend some events of the Virginia Festival of the Book, described on its website as “a 5-day festival of mostly free literary events that are open to the public as we honor book culture and promote reading and literacy.” This
is the festival’s 20th year. I’d read and heard many good things
about this event over the years, but had never attended any of its events until now. What a delightful experience it was. Between Thursday and Saturday I sat in on 8 different presentations, representing a variety of authors, a number of different genres, as well as professionals in the print and online publishing world.
is the festival’s 20th year. I’d read and heard many good things
about this event over the years, but had never attended any of its events until now. What a delightful experience it was. Between Thursday and Saturday I sat in on 8 different presentations, representing a variety of authors, a number of different genres, as well as professionals in the print and online publishing world.
Thursday afternoon I attended a presentation by author Barbara Perry, a senior fellow at UVA’s Miller Center, on her definitive biography of Rose Kennedy. I was interested in hearing more about Rose Kennedy’s life after having recently watched the 2011 miniseries "The Kennedys," with Greg Kinnear as JFK and Katie Holmes as Jackie, streamed on amazon. I especially enjoyed the slides and video that accompanied Professor Perry’s discussion, and purchased a copy of the book, which she inscribed for me. Very fun.
Thursday night Gary and I attended a presentation, complete with gorgeous photos projected on a large screen, by photographer Robert Llewellyn on the inspiration and creation of "Remarkable Trees of Virginia", "Seeing Trees," and "Seeing Flowers." He also spoke
about his upcoming "Seeing Seedpods." Mr. Llewellyn's talk was delightful, full of wry anecdote and visually stunning. His enthusiasm for paying attention to nature, both at the macro and micro levels, was contagious.
about his upcoming "Seeing Seedpods." Mr. Llewellyn's talk was delightful, full of wry anecdote and visually stunning. His enthusiasm for paying attention to nature, both at the macro and micro levels, was contagious.
Friday I headed to the Charlottesville Downtown Mall to attend two discussions located in City Council chambers. The first of the two, “Family, Food, and Community,” was a panel of five incredibly interesting authors -- Cathal Armstrong, Andrea Chessman, Caroline Grant, Ira Wallace, and Joe Yonan -- discussing growing, cooking and eating food, as well as connections between food, family, memories and meaning. Several strands of this discussion especially resonated for me:
The importance of cooking, and the mantra "eat what we make.”
The importance of the daily family dinner table and the family sharing and conversation that takes place there.
Food stories. What food means to us and to our families.
The way that even with the instant availability of recipes that the internet now offers, physical cookbooks continue to speak to us, offering context, history, curated collections, and personal experience.
I’m hoping to find copies at the JMRL library of each of the books referenced at this discussion, and probably to purchase one or more of them.
The importance of cooking, and the mantra "eat what we make.”
The importance of the daily family dinner table and the family sharing and conversation that takes place there.
Food stories. What food means to us and to our families.
The way that even with the instant availability of recipes that the internet now offers, physical cookbooks continue to speak to us, offering context, history, curated collections, and personal experience.
I’m hoping to find copies at the JMRL library of each of the books referenced at this discussion, and probably to purchase one or more of them.
The second presentation that I attended on Friday, by Philip Greene, Scott Jost, and Ronald Lankford, was called “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: The Cultural History of Things.” This session cleverly linked several interesting books, with slides from the books’ illustrations. Philip
Greene discussed his book, "To Have and Have Another, A Hemingway Cocktail Companion." Scott Jost discussed his "Shenandoah Valley Apples" (releasing in
April). And Ronald Lankford discussed his “Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells and Silent Nights, A Cultural History of American Christmas Songs.”
Greene discussed his book, "To Have and Have Another, A Hemingway Cocktail Companion." Scott Jost discussed his "Shenandoah Valley Apples" (releasing in
April). And Ronald Lankford discussed his “Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells and Silent Nights, A Cultural History of American Christmas Songs.”
Saturday I spent all day downtown, attending four informative and inspiring sessions hosted at the Omni Hotel. The topic of each related to publishing, and I came away from the day with a lot to think about and process. There were two sessions I especially enjoyed.
In the first, Jane Friedman, co-founder and co-editor of Scratch Magazine, editor at the Virginia Quarterly Review, and former publisher of Writer’s Digest, spoke on the Digital Publishing Landscape. I loved her powerpoint, her stats, and her many helpful hints, and plan on following her at http://janefriedman.com/ .
At the next session, Jane Friedman, along with author, blogger, and "Washingtonian" editor Bethanne Patrick and children/young adult author Gigi Amateau, discussed “Building an Author’s Platform.”
In the first, Jane Friedman, co-founder and co-editor of Scratch Magazine, editor at the Virginia Quarterly Review, and former publisher of Writer’s Digest, spoke on the Digital Publishing Landscape. I loved her powerpoint, her stats, and her many helpful hints, and plan on following her at http://janefriedman.com/ .
At the next session, Jane Friedman, along with author, blogger, and "Washingtonian" editor Bethanne Patrick and children/young adult author Gigi Amateau, discussed “Building an Author’s Platform.”
At this presentation I was especially intrigued to hear Ms. Amateau recount how she created a children's app to accompany her book, "Chancey of the
Maury River." Another thing that struck me was the panelists' discussion of the importance of “literary citizenship,” (a topic that Ms. Patrick has written on), that is, being contributing, engaged members of the literary community, celebrating other writers, reading and buying their books, and "engaging with people who have ideas."
What a delight, and a gift, the Virginia Festival of the Book proved to be. I’m looking forward to next year already. For now, after a few days of warmish, bright, and sunny weather, we’ve got highs in the low 40s, with predictions of snow in the morning. But hopefully the lovely weather of the weekend points to seasonal change to come.
Here are a few of the photos I shot on the Mall Friday and Saturday, as I strolled, window shopped, and watched families enjoying the splendor of an antique carousel making a temporary appearance on the Mall – flashing lights, music and all. Signs, I hope, that spring is really almost here.
Maury River." Another thing that struck me was the panelists' discussion of the importance of “literary citizenship,” (a topic that Ms. Patrick has written on), that is, being contributing, engaged members of the literary community, celebrating other writers, reading and buying their books, and "engaging with people who have ideas."
What a delight, and a gift, the Virginia Festival of the Book proved to be. I’m looking forward to next year already. For now, after a few days of warmish, bright, and sunny weather, we’ve got highs in the low 40s, with predictions of snow in the morning. But hopefully the lovely weather of the weekend points to seasonal change to come.
Here are a few of the photos I shot on the Mall Friday and Saturday, as I strolled, window shopped, and watched families enjoying the splendor of an antique carousel making a temporary appearance on the Mall – flashing lights, music and all. Signs, I hope, that spring is really almost here.