Tim’s Guide to the DBF

Each year when the Decatur Book Festival rolls around I study the schedule and carefully plot out a full weekend of bookish fun.  The ironclad schedule falls apart within moments of arrival as I’m pulled in unexpected directions.  I always forget to allow adequate time for booth visiting and Brick Store Pub happenings. That said, here’s this year’s pie-in-the-sky game plan:

Saturday

9:30 Madeline Parade – This one is non-negotiable.  My four year old daughter has firm plans to meet up with pals to celebrate the first Madeline book in 50 years.

10:00 – The author events begin with a toss up.  I’d love to see the New Stories from The South panel just to see ZZ Packer (one of Granta’s Top Young American Novelists).  However, a few stages away Douglas Blackmon will be reading from Slavery by Another Name, which has a shot at a Pulitzer (says me).  Also: John Bemelmans Marciano will be reading from the new Madeline at the kids stage.  A game time decision will be made.

11:15 – This one is easy.  I’ll be introducing the Sleep is for the Week: Best of the Mommybloggers panel at the Decatur Presbyterian stage, which features Kristen Chase and Mir Kamin.   I pretty much need to be there.

12:00 – Laughing Pizza in concert at the Kids Stage.  I mentioned the four year old, right?

12:30 – Another toss up.  I hope to see either Rick Bragg reading from The Prince of Frogtown OR Doug Crandell’s Of Hissy Fits and Hairdos panel.  I just saw Crandell at Wordsmiths a few weeks ago, so I’m leaning towards Bragg.

Then it’s lunch and wandering around the booths.  I’ll catch what I can in the afternoon.  Hopefully that will include the Tretheweys.

Saturday night there is a Writer’s Conference Happy Hour at Twain’s, “which will feature live music, a wet flannel shirt contest, and a kissing booth with wax lips, womaned by Hollis Gillespie.” Aye carumba.

Sunday

1:00 We’re hitting the Kids’ Stage for Doreen Cronin, author of at least four children’s books that are currently in my home.

2:00 Andy Runton, author and illustrator of the Owly books, is at the Kids’ Stage.

2:30 Someone go see Robert Olen Butler and ask him about this e-mail.  I just can’t.

3:45 Jed Horne reads from Breach of Faith.  Meanwhile, Jack Pendarvis reads w/ Sheri Joseph.  I caught Jack Pendarvis a few weeks ago at Wordsmiths and it was the hit reading of the summer.  Hmm.

5:00 The Cook’s Warehouse Stage features John T. Edge, editor of the Southern food writing compilation, Cornbread Nation 4.  I have a firend who has a piece in CN 4, so I’ll be checking this one out.

7:30 The fest closes with Drive By Trucker Paterson Hood performing solo on the square.  Aw yeah.

Speaking of music, each day there is live music (and cool air-conditioning) at Eddie’s Attic.  There is also a full slate of poetry at the Java Monkey Stage both days, too.  I always forget to spend enough time at those spots.  And there is always the Brick Store for plotting the next move.

High Concept Readings

Tuesday was a day of High Concept book readings around our fair city.  The day began with Eoin Colfer reading at the Decatur Public Library.  Mrs. Got Books and Lil’ Got Books went to check it out.  The author of the Artemis Fowl books receives rock star treatment and rolled up to the Library in his pimped out tour bus.  A separate van with Radio Disney staff was on hand to hand out prizes and direct games, etc.

The author's Rock Star tour bus

The reading included a video conference with the author’s son in Ireland via Mac laptop.  They exchanged greetings and knock knock jokes before the author began his presentation.  Rather than just read from the latest Artemis Fowl book, the author gave a multi-media presentation about his life and his books.  It was reportedly very interesting and very funny.

Knock Knock jokes direct from Ireland

Later, just down the street, Doug Crendell read from his novel Hairdos of the Mildly Depressed at Wordsmiths Books.  The evening began with the ladies (and later, a gentleman) from Salon Red presenting hairstyling tips and discussing how a change in your look can change how you feel about yourself – certainly a theme that hits home for the protagonist of Hairdos. The follicly challenged members of the audience (including the author and myself) shared laughs over advice to “change our look” every so often.  Great idea!

The ladies from Salon Red

The author read from an entertaining section of his novel that featured a Ton-Loc reference.  A quick show of hands revealed that not many of us remember the genius of Ton-Loc.

Doug Crendell reads about a "Wild Thing"-esque encounter

After the reading, a drawing was held for a free styling/cut at Salon Red.  That was all very interesting, but the real action for me came afterwards when the author handed out a few select hairpieces as trivia contest prizes.  I finally got to see what I’d look like as a blonde.

Not my real hair