Sarasota Reads...alot.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Just wanted to say something about the experience I had at the Sarasota Reading Festival earlier this month. Wow, was it memorable!Many of the streets downtown were closed to traffic all day Saturday as, literally, thousands of people, young and old, showed up to celebrate reading. They came to enjoy, they came to buy books and they came to listen to wide array of authors speak.
When I learned I was scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. speaking time, I was sure nobody would even show up that early in the morning. Instead, the Methodist Church chapel was filled with people who listened with enthusiasm as I stood at the pulpit (a first for me) and talked about gettting away with murder (probably a first for the pulpit). Especially touching for me was the fact that both of my parents, who spend time each year on Siesta Key, were able to be there as well.
Afterwards, there were long lines for Lou Dobbs, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Gene Wilder. Children's authors read to their young fans, cookbook author demonstrated favorite recipes, and local television news crews covered the fesitivities, interviewing writers and revelers.
Nice going, Sarasota.
posted by Mary Jane
