Day: September 21, 2021

Biannual The BookFest returns in October

The BookFest’s fall 2021 event will feature conversations, panel discussions, live interactive events, and more. Photo: The BookFest, used with permission.

The BookFest is the leader in virtual literary events and produces vital conversations on the world’s stage for those who love to read and those who love to write. It launched May 2020 at a time when lockdown forced many live events to be cancelled. Free to attend, the biannual event takes place in the spring and fall and streams panel discussions, conversations, and live interactive sessions. As an award-winner, The BookFest has recognitions from the Webby Awards with a nomination in 2021, a gold award from the Muse Creative Awards in 2020, and a silver award from the w3 Awards in 2020. The BookFest features an array of literary speakers, experts, and authors, which has included: Mitch Albom; Kevin J. Anderson; Mark Coker; Robert G. Diforio; Cheryl Willis Hudson; Wade Hudson; Sarah Kendzior; Jonathan Maberry; Lisa Morton; James Rollins; Connie Schultz; Michael Shermer; Danny Trejo and many others. The BookFest is presented by Books That Make You and produced by Black Château Enterprises. (The BookFest, 2021)

The BookFest® returns for its fourth biannual virtual event with the Fall 2021 edition. As the leader in online book festivals, it will be held on Saturday October 23 and Sunday 24. Free to attend, the programming will engage with those who love to read on Saturday and then lean over to those who love to write on Sunday. Attendees can look forward to four conversations, several panel discussions, and live interactive events. The BookFest is presented by Bookstagrammers, a platform dedicated to book influencers, and by Books That Make You, a bookish brand for bibliophiles. It is produced by Black Château Enterprises.

The BookFest Conversations are intimate discussions with writers and literary leaders. These talks cover the topics of our times as well as provide insights and inspiration to bibliophiles everywhere.

The BookFest Fall 2021 Conversations include:

Lisa Morton – six-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, Morton’s work has been translated into nearly a dozen languages. She has appeared in numerous documentaries and podcasts. Lisa Morton is also the immediate past president of the Horror Writers Association.

Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein – assistant professor of physics, a core faculty member in women’s studies at the University of New Hampshire, and author of “The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred.”

Mark K. Shriver – New York Times bestselling author, president of Save the Children Action Network in Washington, D.C. and former Maryland state legislator. Shriver’s latest children’s book is titled “10 Hidden Heroes: A Counting Book with a Message.”

Helene Wecker – New York Times bestselling author. Her first novel “The Golem and the Jinni” was awarded the Mythopoeic Award for Adult Literature, the VCU Cabell Award for First Novel, and the Harold U. Ribalow Prize, and was nominated for a Nebula Award and a World Fantasy Award. The Hidden Palace is the recently released follow-up novel.

The BookFest Fall 2021 Keynote Speaker is Lori H. Schwartz. Also known as “The Tech Cat,” Schwartz will speak about the convergence of technology and storytelling to kick off The BookFest Adventure. Poet Debbie Monteggia also joins the opening of the event with a poetry reading. Panel discussions, Live Author Chats and new interactive pitching sessions include an array of authors and experts. The full program will continue to grow and will be announced prior to the event.

“We’re proud to present the fourth BookFest. With continuing uncertainty about social distancing and the need for connection among booklovers, I am proud of how The BookFest Adventure is positioned to bring the reading and writing communities together.” – Desireé Duffy, The BookFest founder

Fan-favorites, the Big Bundle of Books Giveaway presented by Books That Make You, the free Virtual Gift Bag for all attendees, and the Live Author Chats, which will be hosted by Scott Ryan and Anastasia Washington, also return. People are encouraged to register for email updates on the website to stay informed, and to join The BookFest Adventure Facebook Group.

Attendees can browse “Virtual Booths,” which are pages for BookFest sponsors, like a physical booth one might find at a festival. There is also a “Books Page” highlighting books from participants. The BookFest organizers encourage attendees to browse books and support the authors and partners who help bring this free-to-attend event to attendees around the globe.

Other supporters of The BookFest in 2021 include:

Authors, Large and Small; Authors Porch; Black Château Enterprises; Book Publicists of Southern California; Books That Make You; Boss Girl Raye; C. S. Lewis Publicity; D.E.B. Method; Get Published Radio; Little Lion; Horror Writers Association; Independent Writers of Southern California; Just Us Books; MyStar95.com; Napox Photography; OwlCrate; RISE Brewing Company; Say it Loud Readers & Writers; Smashwords; The Skeptics Society; TVGuestpert Publishing; WannaBe Press; the Women’s National Book Association in Los Angeles; Veritkal Life Magazine and the Writers and Publishers Network (WPN).

The event’s hub will be the The BookFest website where visitors can find the live streams on the day of the event. It will stream through the Books That Make You Channel on YouTube and Facebook Page. Event hashtags include #TheBookFest and #TheBookFestFall2021 and social media for Black Château and Books That Make You will help spread the word.

 

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The BookFest Fall 2021

MerleFest makes a grand return for rescheduled 2021 event

Jody Carroll performed at this year’s MerleFest. Photo: Jim Gavenus, used with permission.

MerleFest, presented by Window World, has officially ended, but not without several unforgettable collaborations, spontaneous sit-ins, and world-class performances at North Carolina’s beloved festival. Tedeschi Trucks Band, Sturgill Simpson, and Mavis Staples all brought extra MerleFest energy to the Watson Stage over the course of the weekend. MerleFest, held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, which funds scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs. MerleFest will return to its usual spring weekend in 2022, April 28 to May 1. (MerleFest, 2021)

“Once again I want to thank all of our MerleFest family—artists, volunteers, staff, and fans—for their patience and support as we worked together to put on a safe and enjoyable festival that spotlighted the very best in roots-plus music. We’ve had a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces again in seven short months when MerleFest returns to its usual April weekend in 2022.” – Festival Director Ted Hagaman

The following are just a few of the weekend’s highlights.
Thursday: The raucous Po’ Ramblin’ Boys’ set on the Watson Stage kicked off the twice-postponed MerleFest. Los Texmaniacs joined Peter Rowan’s Free Mexican Airforce for a crossover set for the ages. Closing out the night on the Watson Stage were arguably the reigning queen and king of outlaw country, Margo Price and Sturgill Simpson. Simpson performed with his new bluegrass band which consisted of his longtime drummer Miles Miller, Tim O’Brien, Stuart Duncan, Mike Bub, Mark Howard, and Elmer Burchett. Over the course of ninety minutes, Simpson revisited his wildly popular catalog of songs in this new string band format much to the delight of day one festival-goers.

Friday: With programming on all twelve of MerleFest’s diverse stages, Friday found the festival firing on all cylinders. Highlights included a genre-melding set from Joe Troop of Che Apalache, Sierra Ferrell’s much talked about Watson Stage MerleFest debut, a Scythian-fueled late night party at the Dance Stage, and a grand return of Derek Trucks’ and Susan Tedeschi’s Tedeschi Trucks Band—playing only their second show back in the saddle with the full twelve-piece band. The TTB classic “Midnight In Harlem” followed a hair-raising version of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “I Pity The Fool” to close out Friday’s main-stage programming to much delight from fans, new and old.

MerleFest’s 2020 & 2021 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest winners (full list below) were announced on Friday. After nearly 30 years, CASC is ending, and long-time contest coordinator and host, Jim Lauderdale, was honored Saturday for his over twenty years of shared expertise, enthusiasm, and engagement.

2020 MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

First Place Winners

  • Gospel/Inspirational – Mark Atkinson (Charleston, W.Va.) – “Home” 
  • Country – Sarah Jane Nelson (Nashville, Tenn.), Kenny Foster (Nashville, Tenn.) – “Sins of the Father”
  • Bluegrass – Aaron Burdett (Saluda, N.C.) – “Rockefeller”
  • General – Jomo Edwards (Austin, Texas) – “You Need It”

2021 MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest

First Place Winners

  • Gospel/Inspirational – Daniel Davis (Bristol, Va.) – “Dear Lord”
  • Country – Ian Meadows (Higganum, Conn.), Dustin Meadows (Old Saybrook, Conn.) – “Trouble” 
  • Bluegrass – Andrew Small (Floyd, Va.) – “Yesterday’s Blues”
  • General – Shay Martin Lovette (Boone, N.C.) – “For Rose Marie”

Saturday: The Waybacks delighted music fans by honoring the late great John Prine, playing his self-titled album from front to back. MerleFest favorite Sam Bush joined the band, as did Jim Lauderdale and members of Shinyribs and Barefoot Movement. Watson Stage headliners Shovels & Rope had fans on their feet, dancing into the night with their own blend of low country Americana. Afterward, Shinyribs hosted the annual Late Night Jam. Themed “Gulf Breeze: Songs of the Third Coast,” the after-hours concert featured a rotating cast of all-star artists, entertaining music fans into the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Sunday: The morning kicked off with a special performance from the Band Contest Winner, Into The Fog. Tupelo, Mississippi-based Paul Thorn took music fans to church with MerleFest’s annual Gospel Hour at the Creekside Stage. Midday, Oh Boy Records recording artist Kelsey Waldon sang her truth on the Cabin Stage and Mavis Staples rocked the Watson Stage with her classic mix of gospel and rock ‘n roll. Speaking of rock ‘n roll, rock royalty Melissa Etheridge closed the festival and brought music fans to their feet for the final set of the weekend.

MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time, classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, and blues, and expanded to include Americana, classic rock, and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its thirteen stages during the multi-day event. MerleFest is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

New book release: ‘The Butterfly House’ by Katrine Engberg

‘The Butterfly House’ is Katrine Enngberg’s new novel and the sequel to “The Tenant.’ Photo: amazon

A former dancer and choreographer with a background in television and theater, Katrine Engberg launched a groundbreaking career as a novelist with the publication of her fiction debut, “The Tenant.” She is now one of the most widely read and beloved crime authors in Denmark, and her work has been sold in over twenty-five countries. Her new book “The Butterfly House” is the sequel to “The Tennant,” and has detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner race to solve a series of sordid murders linked to some of the most vulnerable patients in a Danish hospital. Read an excerpt here. (amazon,2021)

“The Butterfly House” – Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. But in the coronary care unit at one of Copenhagen’s leading medical centers, a nurse fills a syringe with an overdose of heart medication and stealthily enters the room of an older male patient. Six days earlier, a paperboy on his route in central Copenhagen stumbles upon a macabre find: the naked body of a dead woman, lying in a fountain with arms marked with small incisions. Cause of death? Exsanguination—the draining of all the blood in her body. Clearly, this is no ordinary murder. Copenhagen investigator Jeppe Kørner, recovering from a painful divorce and in the throes of a new relationship, takes on the case. His partner, Anette Werner, now on maternity leave after an unexpected pregnancy, is restless at home with a demanding newborn and an equally demanding husband. While Jeppe pounds the streets looking for answers, Anette decides to do a little freelance sleuthing. But operating on her own exposes her to dangers she cannot even begin to fathom. As the investigation ventures into dark corners, it uncovers the ambition and greed that festers beneath the surface of caregiving institutions—all the more shocking for their depravity—and what Jeppe and Anette discover will turn their blood as cold as ice.