For the seventh year, the Tucson Festival of Books attracted more than 100,000 people to the University of Arizona campus. It celebrated 350+ authors/presenters while showcasing sponsors, exhibitors, and entertainers. The festivities kicked off with the band Rock Bottom Remainders made up of best-selling authors including Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Scott Turow, and others.
Diana’s book
For me, Festival fun took the form of supporting two authors who recently published books I edited. Both are local Tucsonans who are making a difference. Diana Madaras and her first art teacher Chuck Albanese spoke on a panel “The Artist as Author.” Diana talked about Private Spaces, a coffee-table retrospective of her artistic journey that features her life story, dozens of photos, and 152 of her paintings. (See trailer at www.BarbaraMcNichol.com)
Gina’s book
Gina Murphy-Darling celebrated the launch of her book best described as a humor-filled pep talk about a serious subject: why Mother Earth is hurting and what we can do about it. Your Mother Called (Mother Earth): You’d Better Call Her Back! is a must-read for everyone. Check it out!
If you attended this Festival or other favorite book festivals, what was the biggest draw for you? Share your comments here.
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