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HeartWood
A blog about cultivating
creativity, connection and contentment
wherever you are

Booked Up

3/22/2017

20 Comments

 
PictureAt the Tucson Festival of Books



​I've been to art festivals, jazz festivals, strawberry festivals, logging festivals, Polish festivals and festivals whose themes were hard to figure out. At every single one, I've found something beautiful, engrossing, strange, entertaining or tasty. Yet nothing inspires me like a book festival.

PictureThe annual festival attracts 130,000 visitors





​​Thousands of people, all gathered to celebrate the written word, to listen to favorite authors read from their work, to discover new authors, to have conversations about books! In this age of quick-hit info-bits and constant distractions, it's good to know that so many people still choose to engage deeply with a 300-page tale.

PictureBooks and more books
​I found abundant evidence of that phenomenon at the Tucson Festival of Books earlier this month. My main reason for going was to participate in a masters workshop for winners and finalists in the festival's literary awards competition (I was a finalist). I'll share more about the workshop in a moment, but first, a few impressions of the festival, which itself was worth the trip.

​HUGE
The two-day Tucson Festival of Books attracts more than 130,000 book lovers to the University of Arizona Mall and nearby venues, making it the nation's third-largest book festival (behind the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and the Library of Congress National Book Festival). And the event enriches more than minds: visitors pour at least $3 million into the local economy.
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Looking out on the University of Arizona Mall
​Some 400 authors participate in presentations and workshops on topics ranging from current events to zombies, and still more authors are on-site, selling and signing books at their booths. 
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Lining up for a popular author event. The turquoise t-shirts identified volunteers.
​A legion of 2,000 or so volunteers assists with the event, welcoming festivalgoers, greeting and escorting authors, selling books, carrying boxes, managing lines, posting signs, answering questions and giving directions (especially in that one wacky building where all the odd-numbered rooms are on one end and the even-numbered rooms are on the other!), and making the ubiquitous announcements inviting attendees to become Friends of the Tucson Festival of Books.
PictureCostumed characters add to family fun
​

​GENEROUS
Consider this: the whole festival—readings, lectures, panel discussions, musical entertainment, kids' activities, even a literary circus—is free of charge to the public.
 
And this:  All proceeds from the festival go to sustaining the event and supporting local literacy programs. Since 2009, the festival has contributed more than $1,450,000 to groups that work to improve reading and writing ability among children and adults in Southern Arizona. 

​


​DIVERSE
Just take a look at some of the session titles:
  • Immigration: How We Got Here and Where We're Going
  • Murders of the Purple Sage
  • Pets on the Couch
  • Scapegoats: How Islamophobia Helps Our Enemies and Threatens Our Freedoms
  • Depicting LGBTQ Experiences in Books for Teens
  • Thrillers to Die For
  • Writing Lyrically About Sports
  • Disability Experiences in Children's Books
  • Cooking "Wild" – Learn to Eat Close to Nature
  • Fatal Family Secrets
  • Dragons!
  • White Trash: A Conversation with Nancy Isenberg
  • The Mechanics of Magic
  • From the New Journalism to Clickbait
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Browsing
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There's still something special about holding an actual book
PicturePalm and saguaro: pure Tucson


​​

​That's only a small sample—the tip of the saguaro, if you will. I couldn't even begin to hit all the sessions that appealed to me. 

PictureA musical interlude
​ENTERTAINING
With sixty performances taking place during the festival, there are ample opportunities to give your brain a rest and listen to music instead of words for a while.
 
During one mid-day break, I feasted on blue corn tamales to the accompaniment of the most indefatigable yodeler I have ever heard. Honestly, she went on for what seemed like half an hour. And she was good. (So were the tamales.)

By far the most entertaining hour of the whole two days, though, came courtesy of author Michael Perry. I mean, how can you not laugh at a guy whose website is called Sneezing Cow? I had bought his book, Truck: A Love Story, when I came to the festival and masters workshop two years ago, and I enjoyed his funny and tender accounts of life in rural Wisconsin (kinda reminded me of another rural community I know well). So when I saw his name on the program, I made sure to get to the Arizona Daily Star tent early enough to nab a seat. 
Picture
Author Michael Perry
Picture
Michael Perry
Oh, was I glad I did. Perry had the audience cracking up—and occasionally tearing up—for the whole hour. My favorite was his piece on farmer yoga, from his new book, Roughneck Grace: Farmer Yoga, Creeping Codgerism, Apple Golf, and Other Brief Essays from on and off the Back Forty (which I couldn't resist buying in spite of limited space in my luggage).
​
PictureChecking out local fauna in the KNOW YOUR INSECTS tent
​EDUCATIONAL
Want to know more about Arizona insects? There's a tent for that. Take a virtual tour of nearby National Parks? There's also a tent for that. Learn about self-publishing? Yep, that, too.

PictureThis t-shirt sums it up


​Meanwhile, the indoor lectures offer tips on writing and publishing fiction, poetry and nonfiction; getting your book reviewed; promoting your artwork; navigating the entertainment industry, and other helpful topics. I took advantage of three of these free workshops: "Nonfiction – Finding an Agent," taught by Daniel Connolly, author of The Book of Isaias;  "Telling Your Story – Biography v Memoir," by Lisa Napoli (whose memoir, Radio Shangri-La, is a favorite); and "The Ethics and Personal Issues of Writing," by Joyce Maynard (whose memoir, At Home in the World, is another favorite).

​FRIENDLY
Striking up conversations is easy—after all, you can always talk about books. And you never know what else will surface. I shared a lunch table with a Tucson couple who, I discovered, were originally from Kalamazoo, had relatives in Fremont, and used to spend summers at Diamond Lake in White Cloud, all close to my Michigan home.
PictureWestern authors in the Amigos and Ladies of the West tent


​​At another mealtime, a lively bunch of strangers saw me eating alone and invited me to join them. All members of the Western Writers of America, they enlightened me on a genre about which I knew nothing. Among other things, I learned that western novels are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Plus, the authors get to wear some mighty fancy duds.

Picture
Dos Amigos
Outside the booth of a Muslim organization, several young men put a different spin on friendliness. Smiling, they held signs that read, "MEET A MUSLIM. ASK ME ANYTHING." I stopped to talk to one pair and asked what kind of response they were getting. Their smiles widened. "Overwhelmingly positive." 

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"Girl With Doves" sculpture on the University of Arizona campus

​As the festival wound down, the masters workshop warmed up with a Sunday evening get-acquainted reception. Monday morning, we got down to business with a full, two-day schedule of craft talks and readings by the faculty, poets Dana Levin and Monica Youn and authors Joyce Maynard, Michael Tolkin and Mark Beauregard. 
​I have pages and pages of notes from their talks, full of gems that I will return to again and again. One comment stands out as especially relevant these days. In her opening remarks, Joyce Maynard noted that, at a time when compassion is lacking, it falls to writers and poets to be "the holders of empathy."
PictureJoyce Maynard (Photo: Wikipedia)
​Each day we also split up into groups of ten, sorted by genre, and spent two to three hours discussing the pieces of writing we had submitted. Joyce Maynard led the nonfiction workshop, and she wasn't kidding when she warned us she'd be tough. She zeroed in on misleading lead-ins, flabby prose, irrelevant details, rambling sentences, sloppy structures, vague and timid language. Ouch, ouch, ouch. She counseled us to write with intention, spending as much time thinking as putting words on the page. She told us to throw out writing that isn't working, rather than trying to patch it up. Most of all, she urged us to write our most difficult stories, honestly and shamelessly. 

​"Go to the nerves that are alive, the dark places, the things that don't work out, the odd things you're obsessed with." 
​I came away with a freshly-sharpened set of writing tools and the determination to use them on the essays I've been struggling with. I also came away with nine new writing friends. I've been in workshops where participants developed a strong rapport and others where the group just never clicked. This one clicked, perhaps, as someone joked, because we bonded like trauma survivors after enduring Joyce's critiques. Whatever the reason, I look forward to trading work and encouragement with Kelly, Gerry, Jane, Sara, Steve, Lee Anne, Arlyn, Roz and Kirsten.

Not ready to leave Tucson? I don't blame you. Come along on another walk through the festival and its surroundings.
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20 Comments
Emily Everett
3/22/2017 07:05:46 am

Your enthusiasm is showing! And it's contagious. At first I was just jealous of all the bare arms and sunshine but then I got swept up in the wonderful workshops and other observations. Thanks for letting us tag along virtually.

Reply
Nan
3/22/2017 08:58:14 am

Are you going to become a western writer now, so you can get yourself one of those outfits?

Reply
Liz Rehrauer
3/22/2017 09:09:18 am

You are right about Mike Perry, but I may be a bit biased. He was in my 7th grade English class. Love his humor. Lucky Mike for getting to AZ in March as it's not so warm here in WI this time of year. Also, book fesitvals are the best. I can't tell you how many great books I've discovered attending them.

Reply
Nan
3/22/2017 11:10:19 am

Was Mike as funny in 7th grade, Liz?

It's not so warm here in MI, either, so the getaway was welcome.

Thanks for visiting HeartWood. Come back again, and share your thoughts about some of those great books you've discovered.

Reply
bex
3/22/2017 11:53:03 am

Sorry I couldn't meet you there again this year, and not just because I recently finished reading Radio Shangri La. This festival is pure Tucson; your heading adjectives are spot on descriptors. My adult literacy student, who is now an ELAA tutor, was back at the Literacy Connects booth - a major recipient of the $$ generated by the festival and where we, um, connected. He sent an email telling me to watch my mailbox for some swag. There is more to this festival than is physically possible for one human to do in two days - and that's just the outside stuff! ALSO, you and your camera need to go back sometime for the All Souls festivals. That lasts a week or so. : )

Reply
Nan
4/7/2017 03:52:03 pm

I thought I saw your Literacy Connects friend, but I on my way to a workshop so I didn't stop to chat. When I came back later, I didn't see him there.

Reply
J.Q. Rose link
3/23/2017 05:19:44 am

Amazing photos and insight. Loved this post. And I bet the temp was not 112 degrees in March! Looking forward to hearing more.

Reply
Nan
3/30/2017 06:27:45 am

Not quite 112, but it was around 90! I soaked up as much warmth as I could to bring back to Michigan.

Looking forward to telling you more about Tucson and also the one-day workshop I went to in Novi last weekend.

Reply
Sally C Kane
3/23/2017 08:35:07 am

Oh, I wanted to be there too. Another take and experience on the Tucson I love. (my brother and his family live there). I enjoyed the diversity of what clearly was a rich, from the heart experience. Sublime photos!

Reply
Nan
4/7/2017 03:52:58 pm

Yes, very rich!

Reply
Nancy Waits
3/23/2017 05:34:59 pm

This was terrific, Nan. One of my favorites. So glad that you were honored and that this was inspiring and helpful.

Reply
Nan
4/7/2017 03:54:10 pm

I highly recommend the festival for any book lovers looking for a winter getaway!

Reply
Kitty
3/25/2017 06:12:06 pm

Nancy I thought sure you would have our prize winning photo in front of UofA student union!!! Did I miss something???!! You sure did a bang up job on covering the book fest🌝🌵

Reply
Nan
3/30/2017 06:26:44 am

I'm too shy to show my face, Kitty, and it would've looked weird to Photoshop myself out and just leave you standing there alone under the big "A."

Reply
Sue S.
3/30/2017 04:32:56 am

Once again you've written a magnificent account of an adventure. I feel as if I've attended and experienced an amazing event. You are a gifted word goddess!

Reply
Nan
3/30/2017 06:25:44 am

Word goddess! Can I put that on my business card?

Thanks for coming along on the Tucson adventure, Sue.

Reply
Bill link
5/9/2017 08:29:09 pm

Thanks for coming by our tent---what a GREAT picture of our display, plus we like the others, too!! Hope you enjoyed the event!!

Reply
Nan
5/10/2017 04:54:47 am

Thanks for visiting HeartWood blog, Bill! I loved the whole event. Made me want to move to Tucson. Well, maybe just take long winter vacations there. But I definitely want to come to the festival again.

Reply
Bill link
6/14/2017 02:40:44 pm

The Tucson festival along with the LA Times one (the subsequent month) are the two largest we do. Both are unique and fun for book lovers and readers of all types.

Find us again in the future and say hello!!

(Pennyworth Books)

C.I. Marshall link
12/26/2023 07:15:46 pm

Dear Nan:

This is so great! I loved your 2017 post on the Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards Master Workshop.

I'm a finalist (poetry) for 2024 Festival and have been trying to find out about the workshop. I am required to pay $350 for the two day workshop so I'm just wondering if it is worth it. It sounds like it was very valuable for you and you also liked the Festival.
Any advice you can give me will be much appreciated!
Many thanks, C.I. Marshall

Reply



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    Nan Sanders Pokerwinski, a former journalist, writes memoir and personal essays, makes collages and likes to play outside. She lives in West Michigan with her husband, Ray.

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