The Hazel Park Art Fair 2025

August 2025

This past weekend, I happily returned to the Hazel Park Art Fair. Last year was my first time attending, and I and I had such a good time, I had to go back.

And, I tried something new with the way I displayed my books. Authors are always tweaking these things, you know. 😉

The only challenge of sharing tent space with another author, and having fourteen of my own titles, plus a host of anthologies, is to squeeze two six-foot tables into a ten-foot sapce. Is it really a major problem that a little part of each table hangs outside the tent? Only if it rains! So, in search of a solution to this math problem (I hate math), I used two four-foot tables instead of my traditional one six-foot table. Unlike my larger table, these smaller ones have adjustable-height legs, so I tucked one slightly lower and in front of the other, and I think it worked out well. It wasn't too far a reach that readers couldn't pick up the titles in the back, and nothing was hidden behind anything else. I sat in front, a little off to the side, in my tall chair (thank you Mandy Jo!) so I was able to greet and chat with visitors without getting lost behind my table. It made for a very enjoyable day.

Now, when I write more books, I'll have to figure out how to either put a third display rack on the table, or find a better way to display the anthologies - perhaps in a folding bookshelf nearby, or stop sharing tents with other authors. Option three is far too sad for me to even contemplate. Sharing these events with our Tribe is at least 75% of why Drake and I attend! 😊

Last year, I shared a tent with the illustrious and mysterious Mark Love. This year, he shared a tent with the equally talented and remarkable Dragon Master, Heather Ashle. Check out their books. If you like mystery and fantasy, they should be two authors at the top of your TBR pile!

I was extremely fortunate to spend two days sharing a tent with Donna L. Neumann. She is an amazingly talented and super energetic, and gentuinely kind-hearted children's book author. We've done other events together, and we always have a good time. Our tent was on the opposite end of the park from Mark and Heather, but the wonderful thing about authors sharing tents... aside from the fact that we have people to talk with all day...is that it also means that one author can watch the tent while the other visits (or during food and bathroom breaks).

Donna's books are FANTASTIC. I've bought them for several of the little people in my life, and I highly recommend you do, too! Donna writes a delightful series about Annie The Porcupine. She celebrates holidays a little bit differently than her friends. Each time Annie notices that other children are celebrating holidays in traditional ways, she feels a little left out. But her family quickly reminds her that their traditions are just as lovely, and maybe even a bit more meaningful because they're different. Check out her books and if you like what you see, please support this AMAZING Indie Author!

We had some spectacular visitors to the tent this weekend. Lots of children, lots of parents, lots of readers - of every genre - and plenty of puppies and music to make the day even more enjoyable. The Hazel Park Art Fair was held in a really nice park with a large playground for the children, real indoor restrooms (so much nicer than those plastic box things), and a canopy of mature trees that made us feel a little bit like we were hanging out in a forest all day. The weather was great, with only a few minutes of light rain on Saturday, with warm sunshine and gentle breezes the rest of the weekend.

I met an ROUS - a VERY LARGE rabbit who instantly had me quoting lines from Monty Python's Holy Grail, and The Princess Bride, and a basketfull of puppies who were available for adoption. The rabbit was very soft and not angry at all when people wanted to pet him. Only the spirits of the forest will ever truly know how I somehow found the strength to put the little puppy back in his pram with his brothers and sisters, and NOT bring him home with me! It was a sincere struggle, but somehow, I did it. Yay me! 😉

You may be asking yourself, what was the best part of the weekend for Drake? Well, aside from getting to meet a bunch of readers, the highlight of the Fair experience for Drake was Saturday afternoon, when his buddy, Haythem, came by for a visit, a little cuddle, and a photo. Drake is absolutely sure Haythem has grown at least three inches since we saw him in February!

The Hazel Park Art Fair is definately on our list to return next year! We hope to see you there. 😊🦆