Posts Tagged ‘Kerrytown BookFest’

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Michigan Notable Book Award Winners highlighted at Kerrytown

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Jaimy Gordon

Michigan Notable Book Authors will be in abundance for the 9th Annual Kerrytown BookFest September 11 at the Ann Arbors Farmers Market in downtown Ann Arbor. Two Michigan Notable Book Award winners  Doug Stanton, who is the founder of the National Writers Series in Traverse City, and National Book Award Winner will be featured in a main tent presentation with Stanton interviewing Gordon.

One panel discussion, “Michigan Voices”, is made up exclusively of Michigan Notable Book Award Winners. The panel of four writers, moderated by historical fiction writer and Notable winner D.E. Johnson of Kalamazoo Michigan author of the “Detroit Electric Scheme”, will discuss how Michigan and its unique locales, peoples and places contribute to the richness of their novels.

Other panelists will discuss how their work is dramatically influenced by Michigan. University of Michigan author and poet Laura Kasishcke brings both the voice of prose and poetry to her award winning historical novella “Eden Springs” centered in Benton Harbor; Bonnie Jo Campbell, National Book Award Finalist for “American Salvage” and author of the blockbuster “Once Upon a River”, set on Michigan waterways, will explain what attracts her to Michigan-centric settings and; Michael Federspeil will talk about how Hemingway was profoundly influenced by the summers he spent in Michigan. Federspiel won a 2011 Michigan Notable Book Award for “Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan”.

Finally, William C. Whitbeck and D.E. Johnson will add to the mix with their extensive knowledge of Michigan history which is showcased in their books. Whitbeck’s “To Account for Murder” is set in postwar Michigan and is a legal thriller based on the actual assassination of a Michigan Senator by the infamous Purple Gang.  Johnson sets his novels in Detroit during the heyday of the early automotive history weaving real characters into an atmospheric murder mystery.

Other Michigan Notable Book Award Winners at Kerrytown this year are the National Book Award Winner Jaimy Gordon (“Lord of Misrule”) of Western Michigan University; M.L. Liebler (“Working Words”); Doug Stanton author of “Horse Soldiers” (about a unique group of soldiers who rode horses to victory in Afghanistan following 9-11) and “In Harm’s Way”; John Gallagher, a Detroit Free Press writer who wrote “Reimaging Detroit” which looks at what it will take to create a smaller, but more vibrant city.

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Michigan Humanities Council a major sponsor of the 2011 BookFest

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Kerrytown Ann Arbor

Kerrytown BookFest will host its 9th annual festival on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the farmer’s market in downtown Ann Arbor, featuring a National Book Award winner, Caldecott winner and an Edgar Award winner. This event is made possible in part by a $4,000 Michigan Humanities Council major grant.

“The Kerrytown BookFest has established a great track record for attracting amazing talent that you don’t want to miss, especially if you are trying to find that next great page-turner to read,” said Katie Wolf, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council.

“We look forward to supporting this event and the enthusiasm it generates for all things that have to do with great books and Michigan — the authors, the publishers and the readers. Michigan is emerging as the home to world-class authors, publishers and a growing number of ‘must attend’ literary events like Kerrytown, drawing readers from nearby and afar. The Michigan Humanities Council is committed to making that reputation even stronger by supporting programs and events like Kerrytown BookFest.”

This year’s theme of “Michigan Voices” will highlight various individuals and groups, past and present, which make Michigan history, literature and publishing unique. Various activities will kick-off at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the early evening.

Kerrytown BookFest 2010

This BookFest will provide activities for all ages and genre readers, with visits from Mother Goose, an author-led sing-along, discussions on marketing for book artists, and facilitated conversations with award-winning authors. Some of the planned discussions include:

“Michigan Voices: A Sense of Place:” A diverse group of authors who write about Michigan in numerous ways will come together to discuss their books and knowledge of Michigan. The discussion will be led by a writer of historical fiction, D.E. Johnson. (2 p.m. in the Main Tent).

“Science Fiction Voices:” Moderator David Arnsdorf will lead a discussion with a variety of science fiction writers, including Jim C. Hines, Steve Pizik, David Erik Nelson and Carrie Harris. (3 p.m. in the Main Tent).

“Working Voices:” This discussion will feature a diverse group of authors who write about the world of the working men and women. M.L. Liebler, a poet and author, will be joined by writer Jeff Vande and poet Ken Meisel. This discussion will be led by author Lolita Hernandez.  (Noon at the Concert House).

The market is located at 410 N. Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor and admission to this event is free. For a complete event schedule, please visit www.kerrytownbookfest.org. For more information, call (734) 669-0451.

About the Michigan Humanities Council

The Michigan Humanities Council is a private, nonprofit organization created to foster a better understanding of each other and our state through local cultural, historical and literary experiences for all. The Council was founded in 1974 and is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and individual donors. For more information on future programs, upcoming grant opportunities or how you can support these efforts, please visit www.michiganhumanities.org or call (517) 372-7770.

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Kerrytown BookFest announces winner for new awards

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

The Kerrytown BookFest has announced three new annual awards to be presented at its Ninth event September 11, 2011 at the Farmers Market in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Book Exhibitor of the Year is open to booksellers, publishers, and printers who have consistently participated in the BookFest and added to the success and enjoyment of the festival, said Gene Alloway, president of the Kerrytown BookFest Board.

“Our first winner of this award is Magina Books of Lincoln Park Michigan, owned by second generation bookseller Steven Magina,” Alloway said.

“Magina Books has been with the BookFest from its first event in 2003, though its own history is much longer,” Alloway said. Established by George Magina, the open shop still remains in the same building that the family built in 1948. The shop has prospered under his son Steven, and today has more than 50,000 books in its renovated space and on its own website at www.maginabooks.com.

The Artisan Exhibitor of the Year Award which covers book artists, paper makers, binders, and media artists was awarded to Randy Asplund Illustration of Ann Arbor Michigan.

“Randy Asplund has been showing his illuminations and bookwork with the BookFest since 2005 and his medieval book work, such as his exceptional miniature illuminated Life of Jeanne d’Arc is well known in our region,” Alloway said.

In addition to his Fine Arts work, Asplund has also done book illustration for science fiction and fantasy novels and historical art, as well as classes and demonstrations of his techniques, Alloway said.

The third new annual award does not yet have a winner. The Best Booth of the Year will be chosen at the BookFest and is given to the exhibitor who has the most attractive and engaging presentation. The Kerrytown BookFest’s Exhibitor Coordinator, Lynn Yates and noted artist, designer and teacher Susan Skarsgard will judge this award, and will present the award at noon on the day of the event.

All winners receive an award and a free booth at the 2012 BookFest. Reflecting the event’s focus on the book arts, each award is made by hand in the style of a book cover with gilt lettering and its own stand. Both work and materials are being donated by Bessenberg Bindery of Dexter, Michigan.

For more information on the 9th Kerrytown BookFest, visit their website at www.kerrytownbookfest.org The Kerrytown BookFest is in part

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New York Times highlights two authors set to appear at Kerrytown BookFest

Friday, August 26th, 2011

 Author Maureen Jennings and photographer Sean Doerr both presenters at the 9th annual Kerrytown BookFest have been singled out recently by articles in the New York Times.

Jennings newest book, “Season of Darkness” was reviewed in this weekend’s upcoming Book Review section and  Sean’s Doerr’s book. “Lost Detroit: Stories Behind the Motor City’s Majestic Ruins”, on Detroit “ruins’ porn” was prominently mentioned in a full-page article in last Sunday’s New York Times (link not available). Doerr is the photographer of “Lost Detroit.”

Jennings will be joining a panel discussion on “Victorian History Mystery” moderated by librarian Patti O’Brien. The discussion includes three mystery writers who use the Victorian era as their backdrop, but from very different points of view. Maureen Jennings’ award winning Inspector Murdoch series is set in Victorian Toronto; Stefanie Pintoff’s series at the turn of the last century New York Cit,y featuring the use of new forensic methods of detection; and Tasha Alexander’s romantic series is set in Victorian England, and features a woman who falls in love with her husband after he dies, while she’s investigating his death.

Doerr is part of the panel “Detroit Voices” featuring a variety of voices from the changing face of Detroit. The speakers will be John Gallagher, author of “Re-imagining Detroit”, a Michigan Notable Book, and a long time writer for the Detroit Free Press. Joining him will be Sean Doerr and Dan Austin, photographer and author of the book “Lost Detroit”, as well as NPR “Changing Gears” reporter Kate Davidson. Leading the discussion will be writer and Professor Dorene O’Brien.

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