Vermont Book Shelf Authors Applaud the Vermont History Expo! What an Event!!

Jessie and Michael, talking with political author Kate O'Connor (back toward camera).

An outdoor exhibit of a Civil War army supply shop, a "sutler."

Stacks of great books, plenty of authors on hand to sign them and promote them, a crowd of some seven thousand through the gate, and heavenly sunshine, punctuated by an occasional musket blast from the Vermont Civil War Hemlocks at the end of the fairgrounds -- what a weekend we had!

Our books booth at the Vermont History Expo was our first event as a collaborative, and it went brilliantly. Highlights: Castle Freeman's stacks of ROUND MOUNTAIN zipped into the hands of donation-minded readers at no charge during the first two hours. Jessie Haas and Michael J. Daley, married to each other, organized a wing of the booth for some of their many books, mostly middle grade emphasis. Jessie's new book of Westminster West history was a big hit with the crowd.

Laura C. Stevenson and F.D. Reeve, also a married pair of authors, drew in those seeking graceful literature, and Frank talked about the "real" Robert Frost, with whom he traveled long ago. Frank and his musician collaborators Joe and Don are taking the jazzy Blue Cat poems on the road again this summer -- watch for event announcements.

Don Bredes's wife Eileen isn't an author but she pitched right in, helping take word of how easily community groups can now request a visit from a Vermont fiction author through this blog or by e-mail (BethPoet at gmail dot com) or phone (ask us!).

Lynda Graham-Barber's arrival in a summery, period costume reflecting Flag Day, the Fourth of July, and election fever delighted us, as did her children's picturebooks; terrific that she left her NYC editorial career to build a stone house in Newport Center and keep on writing. Robbie Harold made time to join us, too, even though she's deep in pages of the sequel to her award-nominated mystery Heron Island.

Jenny Land Mackenzie, Doug Wilhelm, Howard Frank Mosher, David Stahler, Leda Schubert, Judith Dickerman-Nelson, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, Deborah Lee Luskin, and David Carkeet couldn't make it to this one, but watch for them at coming events.

I'm adding a couple of quick photos here, but honestly, I was running and "schmoozing" more than I was taking photos, so when the promised snapshots come in from some of our guests, I'll add them here.

One booth over, Vermont Civil War author Howard Coffin.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Listen for Robbie Harold and yours truly, Beth Kanell, on Vermont Public Radio during Jane Lindholm's noon-hour program, Vermont Edition, on Wednesday, as we recap the Expo experience and celebrate.