Title to be Forthcoming
September 18, 2011

It’s one of those blank mind weeks where rather than bore you I’d rather just wish you well. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to include some quiet reading time because as we all know reading is an excellent way to remove ourselves from the digitalized part of our lives. It’s well known now that spending time online affects how we process information and it may even alter our brains. So do as I am doing—take up a book, find a private spot, and read. Quietly. Alone. Peacefully. And feel in touch with yourself again.

Upcoming Book Festivals and Fairs:
Seven states are hosting book fairs or festivals this weekend so check below to see if one of them is yours.

Location: Abilene, Texas
Site: Various locations around town
Festival: West Texas Book & Music Festival
Date: September 19-24
For six days, literary and musical events will take place—and most of them are free. Among those events are Pickin’ in the Park, a local authors’ reception, a brown bag program, the Texas Cookbook Gala (already sold out), Festival Jazz Night, Authors in Schools, the Guy Clark concert, a photo exhibit, various presentations on Saturday, book signings, and the Boots & Books Luncheon.

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Site: Mt. Vernon Place
Festival: Baltimore Book Festival
Date: September 23-25
For three full days—Friday and Saturday from noon to 8:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 7:00 pm—literacy will be the star. Seven stages will host presentations by more than 100 authors while the Authors’ Tent will feature book signings and meet-and-greet opportunities. The Radical Book Fair Pavilion will host booksellers and organizations “with a radical bent,” though at the time of writing those were still to be named. More than 100 exhibitors and booksellers will round out the event. In addition, there will be a dozen food/beverage vendors on site. You don’t have to worry about keeping the kids busy; the Children’s Bookstore Tent and the Crafts Corridor will have plenty to occupy them. There will also be a StoryBook Parade on Friday, which the kids are welcome to join, with live music, dress-up surprises, and favorite storybook characters as well as the event called Milk & Cookies. Special Adult Events include A City Divided, HappyHour, Ladies Night Out, PitchAPalozza, and Visual Voices. Don’t forget to check out the Neighborhood Events either.

Location: Oaks, Pennsylvania
Site: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Festival: Philadelphia Vintage Book & Ephemera Fair
Date: September 24
Hours for this antiquarian book fair are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. As with fairs of this type, the attending dealers will offer a variety of rare books and other literary ephemera. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for those ages 12-21.

Location: Santa Rosa, California
Site: Old Courthouse Square
Festival: Sonoma County Book Festival
Date: September 24
From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, attendees will be able to share in a full day of literature, poetry, and entertainment. Three dozen authors, six panel discussions, various young adult and children’s programs, twelve poets, and two sets of storytellers round out this very full day.

Location: New York, New York
Site: Jamaica Market’s Harvest Room
Festival: Queens Book Fair
Date: September 24
Unfortunately, I have no information on it as their website, while attractive, is lacking any information about time, authors, vendors, speakers, or other events. Even their blog has not been updated since late 2010. However, I assume it is on as the date and location is posted.

Location: Washington, DC, District of Columbia
Site: National Mall
Festival: National Book Festival
Date: September 24-25
Having expanded from one to two days, this festival now includes 123 authors, nine stages, and several special events (Summer Reading Program, The Big Box of Books, Let’s Travel the World Through Books, and The Joys of Reading Aloud. Author presentations and readings are going on all day both days (Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:30 pm). This is one amazing festival so attend if you are in the area.

The Pub House:
Though BiblioBuffet does not review books in the romance genre—there are specialty sites that do a far better job than we could + none of us read it—the publishers who focus on this are alive and well. Romance is one of the most reliable genres since its readers tend to passionate and loyal. The primary name is Harlequin, of course, and its list of imprints means for romance readers finding the type they love best. These include:

American Romance (“Romance the all-American way”)
Blaze (“Red-hot reads”)
Desire (“Always powerful, passionate and provocative”)
Heartwarming (“Wholesome editions of refreshed romances that celebrate traditional values and true love”)
Historical (“Historical romantic adventure”)
Intrigue (“Breathtaking romantic suspense”)
Medical Romance (“Trauma, triumph and love”)
Nocturne (“Dramatic and sensual tales of paranormal romance”)
Presents (“Seduction and passion guaranteed”)
Romance (“Warm your heart with the ultimate in feel-good romances”)
Romantic Suspense (“Sparked by danger, fueled by passion”)
Special Edition (“Life, love and family”)
Special Releases (“Special releases from your favorite Harlequin authors”)
Superromance (“Life and love weave together in the most unexpected ways”)
Kimani Romance (“African-American love stories filled with drama and passion”)
Love Inspired (“Romance that inspires”)
Love Inspired Historical (“Inspirational historical romance”)
Love Inspired Suspense (“Riveting inspirational romance”)

But Harlequin is not just romance, something that surprised me when I looked it up to write about it this week. Among their (many) other genres are biography & memoir, crafts & hobbies, fantasy, food & wine, mystery, paranormal romance, pets, Spanish, teen, and thriller. There are far too many books, and they release them at a rapid pace to keep up with demand, to list but if you are or know a reader who enjoys a take on romance Harlequin, while far from the only one, is worth checking out.

Imaging Books & Reading:
The top image illustrating this article on how Ikea is redesigning its bookshelves is . . . interesting. “Next month IKEA will introduce a new, deeper version of its ubiquitous ‘BILLY’ bookcase. The flat-pack furniture giant is already promoting glass doors for its bookshelves. The firm reckons customers will increasingly use them for ornaments, tchotchkes and the odd coffee-table tome—anything, that is, except books that are actually read.” Ouch.

Of Interest:
The most iconic book covers ever? You decide. This article by Emily Temple includes twenty of FlavorWire’s selections, most of which you will recognize. Her piece is based on an earlier article by author Nick Hornby in which he notes that a lot of people other than the author have a say in the design of the dust jacket and mourns that the “days of the iconic jacket illustration, the image that forever becomes associated with a much-loved novel, are nearly gone. The stakes are too high now.” So what are the covers we remember so well? Click through them and see if you agree.

Until next week, read well, read often and read on!

Lauren