Reading Festival

      Yesterday, I went to the Readfest festival in Ft Myers, FL. It was fantastic! The goal of the festival is to promote reading and library use, and all the funds they make from book sales are donated to the library. There are many different authors who will be signing books. There were adult, teen, and children authors. They sell books next to the signing tent, so if you do not own a book by a specific author you can pick it up at the festival. The authors have specific signing times, but will stay until their lines are empty, so if you are in line you will not miss the author! I had my books signed by Gail Carson Levine, one of my favorite authors. I also had a few books signed by Annie Barrows, an author I enjoyed in elementary school.

       There is a teen's area, which is slightly separated from the rest of the festival. In this area there are crafts, such as duct-tape lanyards and ear bud holders. This time there was Just Dance 2 for the Wii. The best part, in my opinion, was the free books. You are allowed to choose any free book to keep, and this includes advance reader's copies. 

       Young readers will also have a great time at the festival. There are crafts designed for young children, and they also are allowed to choose a free book. Of course, this free book is a children's book, not teen's book.

      It is not necessary to pack a lunch, as they do have food there (including funnel cakes, yum!)

      

      I had fourteen of my books signed, and I got a free advance reader's copy of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, which is in stores June 25. One of my new books, Andromeda's Turn, was written by Libby Svenson, who I also had a chance to meet, while she was in 7th grade. I haven't read this book yet, but it looks very promising. I hope some of you will consider attending this free festival in the future. Here is the link to the website: http://readfest.org/

Gail Carson Levine, author of Ella Enchanted, signing my eight book pile.

 

I also had my books signed by Annie Barrows, author of Ivy and Bean as well as The Magic Half.