CSI's Fall Book Fest... Having This Much Fun Might Be Criminal!

This past week, I hit the road on an adventure to join Creative Slingers of Ink's (CSI) Fall Book Festival. Yes, the fifteen-hour drive was long (in both directions... I was traveling with my furry family members and they need to stop and stretch frequently), and the multiple hours of endless construction traffic through most of North Carolina was less than enjoyable... but all of that was inconsequential once I arrived on Saturday morning at the venue. Consternation vanishes quickly when you're enthusiastically embraced by dear friends you've never met!

Held at the Historic Depot in Greer, South Carolina, this spectacular space screamed to be filled with books, authors, and readers. Brick walls, wood floors, and high ceilings with wood beams... the energy here was brimming with decades of story, even before we began setting up our tables!

The room echoed for hours with crowds of people discovering new tales, making new friends, and simply enjoying the day. Adding a bit of extra luxury was the liquid magic of Sip & Sparkle, who brought custom non-alchololic beverages (their cocoa was fabulous), and the culinary wonderment of Mini Amor Cafe with their specialty mini pancake delights. Combined, they kept us fueled and hydrated in the best ways possible. As an added bonus, the train line there is still active, and I got to see several real-live trains pass by. I am a recovering six-year-old, so this was a wonderful thrill!😊

Book Festivals are always fun for me, regardless of how many sales I make (but make no mistake, that part is fun, too). The joy of meeting other authors who share the same passion, and don't look at me like I have three heads when I squeal with glee over discovering their stories is wonderment realized. A few of the authors sharing their books I'd already met when they read on my podcast, Indie Reads Aloud, this year. Still, most were new to me. And yes, in the last hour of the day I did spend a healthy chunk of my profit on a mision to bring home several new books, signed of course. 😉

As this historic space remembers the event, I'm sure those who come after us will hear the echo of our laughter ringing from the rafters and feel the warmth of our hugs radiating off the walls.

The Festival ended with a scrumptious fondue dinner with dear friends at The Melting Pot as we celebrated not only the amazing day, but also our new releases. Going through the writing, editorial, and publishing process with close friends is a little like everyone having children at the same time, and joyfully watching them go out into the world to make new friends. It requires a party! Drake had a good time, too, enjoying more than his fill of cheese and chocolate.

I look forward to the next CSI event... they have a lot going on, both online and in person... and none of it is illeagal, although you might think having so much fun should be! Live dangerously, Join Us! 😉