Wednesday, May 13, 2009

" Best of the Best at Blue Ridge Bookfest "

This was the very first Blue Ridge Bookfest & Author Showcase.
You would never have known it however, as it was totally organized!
The wonderful author Robert Morgan proclaimed it to be, not only
a historical event but a lifelong dream for him. He signed my copy
of his book " Gap Creek " an Oprah Book Club selection, with this
inscription:

" Carol, thank you for coming to be a part of history"















The fest started with a few words from him and then he
introduced bestselling author Sharyn McCrumb......











Who was waiting in the wings.....................










I have been reading Sharyn's books for twenty years, she
is totally responsible for my love of Appalachia and my love
for Appalachian authors..................








Sharyn poses as she signs her books......................








For a devout reader of Sharyn McCrumb, this is wonderful!







This made " Hotlanta " worth it!!!







Sharyn & I discussed her choice of cars.......
" it was the only one that would keep up with the NASCAR Drivers "
she said; Her car tag reads; " ST. DALE "

She wrote a wonderful retelling of The Canterbury Tales in which
fans of Dale Earnhardt go on a pilgrimage titled: " St. Dale"








Kathryn Magendie, author of the wonderful new book
" Tender Graces" and I then attended the presentation
by Vicki Lane, author of The Elizabeth Goodweather
Mystery Series and someone whom I'm fortunate to call
friend.








Here Vicki reads from her book..................












Vicki gave a great presentation and the large crowd was mesmerized!
I wish I lived close enough to attend Vicki's writing class...







Vicki signs her wonderful books for me.........







" Smile Vicki Lane, you're on Carol's Camera"











Then we have showing out for my camera............
North Carolina's favorite Storyteller GARY CARDEN !!







Talking with some of his many fans.................









Kathryn and I next attended Gary's wonderful presentation..









As did author Sheila Kay Adams, who talks with her dear friend
Gary afterwards.................









Author Sheila Kay Adams...... what a brilliant talent she is!
Her presentation was awesome..............
See Vicki Lane to the far right smiling.........at Sheila's storytelling?









The girl tells stories...................
She sings like a songbird and plays...
The Banjo and Guitar........
Not to mention the wonderful books she's written!!








This crowd had a good time !!!!








Vicki and Sheila Kay are good friends and neighbors!








These NC authors are truly a family who love and respect
each other and it was a joy to witness this...


Vicki and Sheila Kay meet up..............




North Carolina Poet Laureate, Kathryn Stripling Byer,
also thrilled to see Sheila Kay............






The last session Kathryn Magendie and I attended was by
Jeff Biggers, whose book " The United States of Appalachia"
is getting rave reviews on Amazon! I don't have the words to
describe how awesome this guy was!! I thought I knew Appalachia
History! Wrong! I heard things from him that blew me away! I would
have loved to have seen Bill O'Rielly sit through this presentation!!!
I bought the book and plan to read it soon!


Here is Jeff Biggers with Kathryn Stripling Byer whom he was
bowing to in honor of meeting her, just before I snapped this pic!







After the fest was over, Kathryn Magendie and I
met Vicki Lane and Gary Carden at the beautiful B&B
they were staying at in Hendersonville and the four of us
walked downtown and enjoyed a wonderful meal and great
conversation about ghost tales, history and books!


I have only one disappointment in my trip to North Carolina.
My "oldtimer's " was in full swing causing me not to do the very
thing I drove 547 miles to do..................


I did not get my picture made with Vicki, Gary, Kathryn or Sherry
Austin even though I was around them a lot and always had my camera!
My heart was broken when I realized this......................

17 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

Thanks, Carol! This was so much fun and I didn't even have to do Hotlanta. Especially nice to see the wonderful Vicki Lane!

Vicki Lane said...

You're an excellent reporter, Carol -- and it was a terrific event, indeed!

Kathryn Magendie said...

And I had my camera with me and didn't snap not ONE photo!~ Dang me!

I had such a good time - and folks, I've already bragged on Carol in my blog - but forgot to mention how beautiful she is -- she glows! And I wish I had her hair, dagnabit....all day and it still looked gorgeous....!

Missy B. said...

Thanks for sharing, Carol. It looks like you had a wonderful time...and the misery in Hotlanta was worth it!

Anonymous said...

Carol,
My computer is acting up. I can't access my own blog! I've admitted defeat and contacted a computer nerd
who will come to my house sometime this week and make things right. When that happens, I want to write a piece about the "Book Fest." Loved the pictures except I am alarmed how fat and old I have become. Loved the post fest dinner. Yeah, I wish you had made those photos, but maybe there will be other opportunities. I told stories to 400 Baptists over in Pisgah Forest. I told stories and then we ate like hogs and then I told stories again. I'll talk about this one I get my blog back.
We had fun, didn't we!
Gary

Carol Murdock said...

Willow....June 5th 2010! Join us!

Vicki...why thank you ! It sure was!

Kat...Awwh...your sweet but you have "old timer's too" it seems!

Missy...see what you missed !!It's that name of yours! HA!

Gary....we sure did!!!!Get that PC fixed!

NCmountainwoman said...

What a great time it must have been. I'm definitely going to attend next year!

Becca's Dirt said...

So glad you had such a lovely time. I know it must have been wonderful to have so many great authors in one place. Becca

Renie Burghardt said...

Well, another wonderful event that we could enjoy, thanks to you, Carol. So nice to see, too, how much these authors appreciate each other's talent. And I'm not sure if I ever mentioned how much I have enjoyed Gary Carden's "Mason Jars in the Flood." It's a wonderful book, and there you were up close and personal, with him! You lucky duck!

Great post and pictures!

Hugs,

Renie

Carol Murdock said...

Carolyn...you have to go next year! June 5th ! Mark it down!

Becca...for someone who thrives on the written word, it was heaven!

Renie...he is a jewel that Gary Carden! He's my buddy!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

How incredibly exciting to visit in person with all those wonderful authors !
I bet you didn't know which one to listen to first.
I know you'll be marking down the days, until the next....

Angie Ledbetter said...

Sounds like a great conference. I could kick my own bahonkus when I forget to take pics!

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

What a great blog!
What a great event!
I am SO sorry I missed this!!!

Janet said...

Wow, you had a great trip. Now with all that inspiration you got, I bet you could sit down and write some great stories. Thanks for sharing your visit.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Carol, I've enjoyed catching up with your wonderful trip to Flat Rock.. Looks like you enjoyed yourself and met and heard alot of great people and presentations. How Special!!!

Sorry about your hang-up in Hotlanta. We always try to do our best to miss that area as much as possible. It is hard to get around though without going WAY out of the way!

Can't believe that we were both in Flat Rock on Sunday.. We just drove 'through' --but I could have at least waved!!!!

Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

oh but it sounds marvelous!

I_am_Tulsa said...

Not taking pictures happens to me often when I am all excited...Why is it that we do (or don't do) that?!

I wish I could go to great events like this too!
Fingers crossed!