Decatur Book Festival Live!

Final wrap from Lenz

From: Ryan Klee | Lenz, Inc. | 404.373.2021 ryan@lenzmarketing.com 

Fourth Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical Draws Rave Reviews from Authors and Fans

Largest Independent Book Festival in the Country ‘Comes of Age’

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September 10, 2009 (Decatur) — Celebrating its fourth birthday this weekend, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (DBF) is drawing praise from both authors and participants.

International best-selling thriller author Lee Child, appearing on Fox 5’s Good Day Atlanta Friday, September 4, said, “In its fourth year, Decatur is already one of the major book festivals in the U.S. You’ve got to go to the L.A. Times Festival and maybe Decatur. This is now a big deal. It’s all very exciting.”

DBF Executive Director Daren Wang agreed, calling the festival a “tremendous success” and citing the standing-room-only groups at the 900-seat First Baptist Church of Decatur and the 700-seat Decatur Presbyterian Church. The 400-seat Target Children’s Stage was also packed throughout the weekend with families and children lining up to hear popular children’s authors such as Judy Schachner, Jon Scieszka, and Elizabeth Dulemba.

“Decatur is proud to host an event that celebrates books, reading, and fun all at the same time,” Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd added. “Seeing children mesmerized by authors, teenagers participating in a poetry slam, and adults enjoying non-stop thinking and learning is an inspiration. Our community embraces the creative arts and the AJC Decatur Book Festival is at the top of the list for us. We are already looking forward to what next year will bring.”

more in the continuation

Many signed books at the Little Shop of Stories

The LSOS has quite a few books signed by authors appearing at the DBF:

The reviews are still appearing on the net

Jessica Burkhart, back in NYC, has posted a review of the DBF, with some images.

Lenz Marketing has summarized its key role in all four DBFs.

Ally Carter rated everythihng as AWESOME!

Loren Long's Otis

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The Decatur Book Festival selected Otis the Tractor as the them of the children's parade.

Loren Long is a study in what motivates adults to write and illustrate books for children, and how they get ideas for their books.

It's possibly just a coincidence, but Otis, Kansas has been holding an "Old Iron Days" since 1997. The Little Shop of Stories would not even let me look at the book before the festival. I bought a signed copy Monday, even though I'd already read it before I left the store. I'll give it to a friend with a child.

Even though I'll be 64 next month, I still distinctly remember a fascination with "The Litle Engine that Could" (a story which first appeared around 1905 and was first published as a book in 1930) as a child, and still have a fascination with trains, perhaps for that reason. See a You Tube video of a 1963 video version. Will Otis the tractor achieve such fame and longevity? Time will tell. Browsing the LSOS will show there's a lot of competition out there.

Do you know where the name Otis came from?  I'm just guessing the link in the continuation explains it.

How do you end a great book festival?

With a picnic and concert in great weather.

The sponsors were Slow Foods, USA and the Southern Foods Alliance, as well as some local groups.

Attendees had the option of sampling food from four restaurants with an international flavor, or bringing their own picnic dinner.

More images of the food, the crowd, and the group will be added later.

Bookzilla goes out with a bang

As his final act of destruction, Bookzilla picked up the new DeKalb County Courthouse and tossed it over to the Cynthia McKinney Parkway near I-285, knocking down the DeKalb Hotel Jail and the Boys Club Juvenile Detention Center.

He considered tossing the Historic Courthouse as well, but decided it was too attractive to destroy. See image in continuation.

Thanks for reading DBF Live! More images may be added later today, just for the record (as they say). And, a SPECIAL THANKS to any who contributed posts.

Visit inDECATUR (inDECATURga.uS) after noon each day for matters of interest to Decatur residents.

Thank you Dave Kell

Thank you Dave for setting up the DBFlive blog! Great photos and a good use of technology. Decatur is a great place and it's people like Dave that make it so. John R. Lenz

Kathy Reichs

Author of "devil bones" & Dana take pedicab to DFBC for talk. Get your ride now. 9203712227

SkippyJon Jones

Posing for pictures before parade. Now at 12:15. Author Judy Schachner of "SkippyJon Jones Lost in Spice" will be in pedicab

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