The Literary Town Square has disappeared from this year’s Lewisburg Literary Festival – it’s been replaced by the more aptly named Literary Festival Bookstore.
The new name better reflects the variety of authors and publishers available throughout the festival at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center. The Festival Bookstore offers shoppers the opportunity to browse a unique congregation of works. Publishers can help direct shoppers’ interests and authors are available to discuss their work and sign purchased books.
“Readers are great conversationalists,” said Sandy Tritt, a writer, editor and CEO of Inspiration for Writers, Inc. “And what would writers be without them?” Inspiration for Writers is an editing and writing company.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet festival attendees who are dedicated readers, eager to find quality books to add to their personal libraries,” said Cat Pleska, publisher of Mountain State Press. “The opportunity to engage everyone in conversation about stories and authors is a special treat.” Mountain State Press, based at the University of Charleston, is a nonprofit traditional press with the mission to publish West Virginian and Appalachian authors.
“Lewisburg is a unique community that maintains a focus on the arts, including the literary arts. Such focus is not common.” Pleska also will be available to sign copies of her own book, Riding on Comets: A Memoir, published by the West Virginia University Press.
As a writer, Pleska has found that “during the festival authors are feted as artists who work hard to bring to the world books to enchant and entertain and to provide thought. Lewisburg is a great treat for us all.”
Brittney Cassity in the past “had a wonderful time” helping at the festival table for West Virginia Writers, Inc. This year, she has her own table. “Connecting with readers is every author’s goal,” said Cassity, an independent children’s author/illustrator. “Meeting them face to face allows both sides to form a much stronger bond.”
Workshop leaders Jessie Van Eerden and Sandy Tritt also will have tables at the Festival Bookstore.
Other publishers and authors confirmed include the West Virginia Book Company, Faith by Grace Publishing, Publisher’s Place, Eliot Parker, Eric Fritzius, Brittney Cassity, Jon Byrne, Freya LeCrow and Kathleen Jacobs.
