Bookzilla

I have a weird obsession with books.

I can't walk past a book store or fair without buying something. I always have a couple of books on me at all times in case real life gets too boring. I've been like this since I learned to read all those many years ago. I have fond memories of bumping into walls at school because I couldn't be bothered with actually looking up as I walked.....yeah.

Anywho, imagine my giddiness when I found out that the 4th annual Decatur Book Festival was being held this past weekend.

The book festival kicked off Friday afternoon with a writer's workshop at Agnes Scott College. Kaylie Jones & Sir Harold Evans were the keynote speakers for the event. I also attended a workshop on crafting memorable characters given by N.M. Kelby. They were all wonderful speakers and I plan to add Kelby's new book "The Constant Art of Being a Writer" to my ever growing 'to be read' pile.

Most of the festival events took place on the following day, however. There was a stage devoted solely to children's books that featured a variety of great authors like Peter McCarty, Melissa Conroy, & Eleanor Davis. I was able to get an autographed copy of Otis by Loren Long.

I think that this was my favorite picture of the whole day. I still don't know what he was advertising (oops!), but I had to give him props for donning the zebra costume in that heat.

One my favorite fairground foods is the funnel cake. Mmm mmm good. It's really a heart attack on a paper plate, though. The dailyplate.com estimates that it has about 760 calories. Ouch.

Another highlight of my day was getting to hear Stephanie Bond detail the most efficient way to move a body.

Stephanie is the author of a popular series of books about a brother & sister who just happen to fall into the body moving business. What follows is a mix of mystery, romance, and humor. It seems like it's going to be an entertaining series. I scored two autographed copies.

All in all, I had a great time. Hopefully, next year, some of the authors that I didn't get to hear will decide to come back. I really regret not being able to make it to see Jon Scieszka. I think I like his books a little more than my 9 year old nephew does.