Thank you Chippewa Valley Book Festival!

On October 22nd and 23rd I had the honor of giving presentations on Marcel’s Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man’s Fate to audiences in Fall Creek and Menomonie, WI. Both events were part of the Chippewa Valley Book Festival.

“… The festival celebrates the written word through author readings and book signings, school visits, meals with authors, and includes programs for writers of all ages. The 2019 festival featured more than twenty authors at area libraries, schools, and other community locations.” This year was the 20th year for the volunteer-run festival.

In both locations I felt warmly welcomed by both the book festival organizers and engaged audiences. Some attendees had already read the book; others came to the event without knowing a thing about the story.

 

Presentation at Fall Creek Library, Fall Creek, WI.

Presentation at Menomonie Public Library, Menomonie, WI
Photos above courtesy of Chippewa Valley Book Festival.

 

A special VIP attended the Menomonie event: Bill DeHoff. Bill was my typography professor at UW-Stout. I began my presentation by reading an excerpt from page 28 of the book where I described his classroom feedback. I may have embarrassed him a bit, but he is deeply admired by former students and deserves all the recognition he gets.

With Bill DeHoff before the presentation at the Menomonie Public Library

 

An unexpected delight was to spend time with friends who had been dear friends of Kathy Horton (readers got to meet Kathy in the book). My assigned contact at the Fall Creek Library, as well as a four ladies who took me out to lunch after my presentation in Menomonie had known Kathy for years and years and years. It was a delight to swap stories about our dear, mutual friend who has now been gone for three long years.

A huge thank you to readers and organizers for inviting me to be part of this year’s book festival!