Beautiful weather, large crowds and intriguing author talks inside large, white tents highlighted Saturday’s Gaithersburg Book Festival at Bohrer Park.
“I’m looking at full tents and happy people,” declared Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, founder of the festival, which was first held in 2010.
During the event, Ashman introduce author Jeanine Cummins, who wrote “American Dirt.” Her new book is, “Speak to Me of Home.”
Although she grew up in Gaithersburg and attended Gaithersburg High School, the book is about Puerto Rico. Still, Ashman declared her, “our hometown hero.”
Author Jeanine Cummins (right)
Many Montgomery County councilmembers and other officials as well as state delegates introduced each of the more than 100 authors. There were writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s literature, young adult literature, sports and memoirs.
Delegate Ryan Spiegel, (D-17), introduced arguably the most popular author at the festival, humor columnist Dave Barry.
Barry is famous for his annual year in review columns that poke fun at events that made the news. His new book, an autobiography, is entitled, “Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up.”
Spiegel remarked, “It’s complete with footnotes.” He called it “truly my honor to introduce the incomparable Dave Barry.”
Barry spoke of his interest in guitar more than school, noting, “I was told by more than one teacher, ‘That was very funny David, but you can’t laugh your way through life.”
Councilmember Sidney Katz introduced Alan Katz, who wrote, “Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Songs.” Katz said that although he is not related to the children’s author, he couldn’t miss the chance to introduce someone who shared his brother’s name.
Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe introduced author Evan Friss, who wrote, “The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore.” She also was very excited to hear Judith Viorst, who at 94 years old, recently came out with her new book, “Making the Best of What’s Left.”
Viorst became famous in the 1970s as author of the children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”
Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton introduced authors Alan Weisman and Malcom Harris, who both wrote books about climate change.
“In the City of Rockville, I’ve really helped lead some of the action on climate change,” she said, adding, “We are moving the needle.”
“To me, we have the power to make a real difference,” she said. It is particularly important, she said, during the current administration.
Besides authors, there were plenty of writing workshops, including one led by Melissa Scholes Young. Her “Mapping Stories for Structure and Revision,” broke down a story into 12 parts, beginning with the introduction of a hero all the way to the hero returning home.
Her tent was very quiet as participants followed her outline and wrote their own stories.
A children’s writing workshop challenged young writers to help create a story about hot dogs vs hamburgers.
There was a Children’s Village, where youngsters could create their own books, do arts and crafts and listen to authors. Representatives from Montgomery County Education Association held story time throughout the day.
Montgomery County’s Friends of the Library had a large tent full of used books for sale. Other groups gave away free books.
Author Brian Myers
Quite a few aspiring authors had their own tables to plug their books, including Brian Myers, who wrote “Hidden History of Montgomery County.”
The Gaithersburg resident said he did a lot of research, and even learned that Vernon Thompson, the last man to be hanged in Montgomery County after blowing up his neighbor’s house, actually is his third cousin.
