2nd Tucson Festival of Books coming up on March 13 & 14
by Carolyn Classen on Mar. 01, 2010, under Arts, Life
1st Festival of Books event in 2009
The 2nd Tucson Festival of Books will take place at the University of Arizona Mall on Saturday March 13 and Sunday March 14, with more than 400 authors, 150 exhibitors, and 24 venues. The 2 day event runs 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on both days.
www. TucsonFestivalofBooks.org has all the informaton. This free event last year drew reportedly 50,000 people, to the family-friendly events, numerous book exhibits, food court, writing workshops, and best-selling author talks.
Last year I heard J.A. Jance (local mystery writer) speak, and she’s due again this year. We also listened to Barry Goldwater, Jr. candidly speak about his U.S. Senator dad, and his own Congressional experiences (1969 to 1983) in “Pure Goldwater” (co-authored with John W. Dean).
Some of the scheduled authors this year include:
* Dan Balz, whose book “The Battle for America 2008” is an authoritative account of last year’s presidential race.
* Frank Beddor, whose “Looking Glass Wars” trilogy is a critically acclaimed re-invention of Lewis Caroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
* Alice Hoffman, whose novel “Practical Magic” was made into a film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
* Phil Caputo, whose memoir “A Rumor of War” was one of the definitive books about the Vietnam War.
This year’s theme is “Where Words and Imagination come to life”. How fitting, for people who love to read. As a child, reading books became a terrific fantasy world for me, into secret gardens and faraway places, many of which I did see one day. Truly, words and imagination came to life for me for decades.
Street parking is free on the weekends, and there are also numerous parking garages around the U of A Mall (west of Campbell Avenue off E. 3rd St.). Or take the Sun Tran bus, bicycle, walk, scooter, skateboard to this fun weekend festival.
Pick up a good book and read– before, during and after this Festival.
