Sunday, May 1, 2011

Sunday Salon - Newburyport Literary Festival!

Well I'm home now from the phenomenal Newburyport Literary Festival, the sixth annual celebration of books and letters held in the beautiful seaside town of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Right on the border with New Hampshire, Newburyport is a picturesque New England town with old houses, fun shopping and great restaurants.This year was my second attending the festival and my first as an honored participant. Jeff and I arrived in Newburyport Friday night for the opening-night dinner; traffic from the city kept us away for the opening ceremony presentation. Dawn of She is Too Fond of Books, Kevin of Boston Book Bums and Sarah of Archimedes Forgets joined us for dinner and the next day on a Saturday morning panel to discuss the ins and outs of book blogging for an audience of about 50 people. I was thrilled with the turnout; there seemed to be all ages in the audience and we got great questions on everything from time management to the best ways to promote yourself online.

We met up with Jason of Brain Candy Book Reviews, who was in the audience as well, for a great lunch afterwards and then went our separate ways until late in the evening and a party at the magnificent home of author Andre Dubus III, whose new book Townie was featured at the festival. For the rest of the time, my husband and I attended a session with author Michelle Hoover on writing what you know, a reading by Paul Harding from his Pulitzer Prize winner Tinkers, and the closing ceremony poetry performances. Later I got to meet Mr. Harding and chat with him for a few minutes at the party. What a day! What a weekend!

Now I'm back home and trying to figure out what's next! I have the first session of my advanced improv class this afternoon and then I have to see a friend this evening; I don't know if I'll have any time to read but if I do I'll be tackling The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht, which I'm liking if not loving so far. We'll see how it goes!

I hope you're having a great day! Let me know what you're up to and enjoy it.

More Sunday Salon here.

13 comments:

Sarah Reads Too Much said...

I wish I could have gone!! I am so glad you had a wonderful time, and hope that I can go next year!!

Trisha said...

Sounds like you had a great time! I'm so jealous!

Vasilly said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful time! I would have loved to attend the Michelle Hoover talk. Today I'm reading Tolstoy and the Purple Chair while tackling some homework. Enjoy your Sunday.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

It really was a fun weekend with a full schedule - Newburyport is a wonderful city ... already planning a day trip back.

The panel went well - I, too, was pleased with the diversity in the audience.

Bonus to be able to meet Jason and enjoy that nice lunch. A grilled salad, who knew?!

bibliophiliac said...

Sounds like a wonderful weekend! I have Townie on my shelf, and can't wait to read it. We are getting to the end of another school year, so today I'm trying to gear myself up for the coming week. I have a lot of planning to do.

Zibilee said...

It sounds as if you had a wonderful time out there, and you got a chance to meet some very impressive authors and bloggers! I would have loved to have attended your panel as well. Thanks for sharing your day with us! Oh, and don't feel too bad about not loving The Tiger's Wife. From all the reviews I have read, it seems to be getting a pretty tepid reception.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Sounds like a wonderful time at the book festival.

Anonymous said...

Hi Marie!

What a great blogging conversation you were a part of. Nice to see the variety of people in the audience.

It was great meeting you all as well. I look forward to future bookish fellowship with you all.

Anonymous said...

wow that sounded like a fantastic time!

~L (omphaloskepsis)

caite said...

I need a literary festival!

Darlene said...

Sounds like such a wonderful time Marie. I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself. I sure wish I could have been there.

Anonymous said...

What a great event! Lucky gal :)

Booksnyc said...

I had never heard of Newburyport before this month and I feel like I have seen it all over the place since then!

Glad you have such a good time - sounds like a fun Festival!