The Blue Ridge Bookfest 2016 featured author Sara Gruen; you can watch her interview with Bill Ramsy, here.

Sara Gruen is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of At the Water’s Edge, Water for Elephants, Ape House, Riding Lessons, and Flying Changes. Her works have been translated into forty-three languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Water for Elephants was adapted into a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon, Rob Pattinson, and Christoph Waltz in 2011.

She lives in Western North Carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and the world’s fussiest goat.

Sara was the featured author at the 2016 Blue Ridge Bookfest. You can watch her video where she was interviewed by Bill Ramsey, who is on the board of North Carolina Writers' Network, here:

Sara Gruen Announced as Featured Author of 2016 Blue Ridge Bookfest, Flat Rock, NC

The 2016 Blue Ridge Bookfest is pleased and excited to announce that Novelist Ms. Sara Gruen, author of the widely acclaimed Water for Elephants, will be the 2016 Blue Ridge Bookfest Featured Author. Sara Gruen is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of At the Water’s Edge, Water for Elephants, Ape House, Riding Lessons, and Flying Changes. Her works have been translated into forty-three languages, and have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Sara lives in Western North Carolina with her husband and three sons, along with their dogs, cats, horses, birds, and “the world’s fussiest goat.”

The 2016 Blue Ridge Bookfest will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 22 & 23, 2016, at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC. Ms. Gruen’s participation in the Bookfest will include a ticketed ($25.00) Reception and Book Signing on Friday evening beginning at 5:30 pm; heavy hors-d'oeuvres and adult beverages will be served during the reception. At 6:30 pm, well-known local author and Bookfest co-founder Mr. Bill Ramsey will interview Ms. Gruen, followed by questions and answers. Those not attending the reception may enter the conference hall at no charge at 6:30 pm.


Over 40 Authors and other presenters will offer craft workshops and be available to meet and greet, discuss their work, and sign books. A complete schedule of events and participating authors’ books and bios will be posted soon on this Bookfest website. Writers and Aspiring Writers will be able to meet published authors one-on-one, and attend free workshops and presentations on Friday and Saturday to hone their craft.

http://www.blueridge.edu/blueridgebookfest

Bill Ramsey's new book, What Do You Think?, now available!

Bill Ramsey’s new book, What Do YOU Think? is available today from Amazon in paperback, and on Kindle e-books. Be sure and click on the “LOOK INSIDE” tab just above the cover to read the table of contents and several sample essays.

This is Ramsey’s second book of concise and original essays. The first was his 2013 collection: Now That I Think About It.

In his career, Bill Ramsey wrote technical manuals, magazine articles and business newsletters. Now retired, he enjoys writing about "life and the way real people choose to live it."

Bill is on the board of directors of the North Carolina Writers Network and the Blue Ridge Community College. He is a founder of the Blue Ridge Bookfest, celebrating its 8th year in April, 2016.

You can find Bill's books, and his blog at:
www.authorbillramsey.com
www.billramseyblog.wordpress.com

Eighth Annual Blue Ridge Bookfest

Save the Date for the 8th Annual Blue Ridge Bookfest! Mark your calendars for Friday, April 22 & Saturday, April 23, 2016.  Don't Miss Out! Join our Newsletter List and receive monthly updates from  Western North Carolina literary circles.

How to Apply to Participate as an Exhibitor, Speaker or Workshop Author Applications for the 2016 Blue Ridge are open.  We had over 100 applications for 40 author spots in 2015. Be sure to get your application in early.  Click HERE for application guidelines and click HERE to open the online application form.

Two Events Coming up:

The Working Writers Reading: On Thursday, April 9th at 7 p.m. at Brevard College, novelist and newspaper columnist Katherine Scott Crawford, short story writer Jubal Tiner, and poet Ken Chamlee from their published work and works-in-progress. Brevard College, McLarty-Goodson Room 125. 

On April 25, Katherine Scott Crawford will discuss her historical novel Keowee Valley as an Author Presenter at the 2015 Blue Ridge Bookfest. She joins other Author Presenters Tommy Hays, Karen White, Terry Kay and more.Event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, go to www.blueridgebookfest.org.

Author Website: www.katherinescottcrawford.com

Blog: www.thewritingscott.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatherineScottCrawford

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KatherineScott

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."

~ John Muir

JACK PRATHER FEATURES NOTABLE NORTH CAROLINIANS

May Book Events for Netwest member, Jack J. Prather, author of Twelve Notables in Western North Carolina -

2 p.m. Saturday, May 4th, Osher Lifelong Learning Center, Reuter Center, UNCA, with three 'Notable' authors: Joe Epley, Revolutionary War novelist; Dr. Olson Huff, children's books; and Doug Orr, Appalachian music book (2014) with co-author Fiona Ritchie.

 

8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 18th, as an author-presenter and exhibitor at the Fifth Annual Blue Ridge Bookfest,Tech Center, Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC.

Jack will be announcing at the Blue Ridge Bookfest the identities of the exemplars who will be featured in his new book of comprehensive condensed biographies tentatively scheduled for release later this year: Seven Notable Women of North Carolina. (Two of the Notables are very well-known and respected within the writing community. The third book in this series will be about 'Young Notables', as he seeks to become a major chronicler of exemplary North Carolinians.

Jack J. Prather
prathergroup@aol.com

Why should authors participate in book festivals?

At the risk of stating the obvious, if a book is to sell, the author needs to effectively promote it.
The question is how and where to do it. Does one hit the road and make individual appearances at book stores and coffee shops? Even a recognized author may find ten people in the audience and sell only a couple of books.
The disappointed author may have driven many miles and spent money on food and a motel. The host of the book-signing event offers all the usual excuses. "We don't know why people did not show up. We had a poster on the bulletin board for weeks and told lots of people about your coming."

There is an alternative to individual book-signing tours.
An author can participate in a book festival and share the large stage with dozens of other authors? Perhaps a shared stage is better than a tiny, empty one. There is the related opportunity to meet editors, reviewers, publishers and other authors making  it an enriching experience. Writers can attend free presentations on a variety of things like marketing, e-books trends and the effective use of industry professionals.  Mix with and talk to readers to see what they are reading and how they discover what they read. Ask questions that can guide both your writing and the most effective ways you can promote it.
There are about six active book festivals across North Carolina and others in adjacent states.  The closest to those living in western NC is the Blue Ridge Bookfest.

Fifth Annual Blue Ridge Bookfest

Your friends at the 5th annual Blue Ridge Bookfest invite you to attend on May 17 and 18, 2013 in the Technology Building on the Blue Ridge Community College campus in Flat Rock/ Hendersonville, North Carolina. Visit our website www.BlueRidgeBookfest.org and click on "Contact Us" to sign-up for our newsletter. Interested authors can request a table at a future festival by clicking on the drop down menu "Interested In".

Consider coming this year even if you are not exhibiting your latest book. Or you could just stay home and wonder why your books are not selling and why your writing is becoming more a task than a joy. What fun is writing if nobody seems to be reading what you write? Come play in our writer's sandbox; our book festival.


Bill Ramsey

Blue Ridge Bookfest May 18 - 19 Flat Rock,NC

Bill Ramsey wants to remind you all that the Blue Ridge Bookfest will have lots of authors, books and interesting presentations for the two day event.

The 2012 Honoree, Elizabeth Kostova will be feted at 6:30 on Friday evening, May 18th, immediately after the Bookfest's opening reception. Rob Neufeld will emcee a discussion with Kostova about her novels and experiences as a writer at that time.
I really enjoyed Rob's interview with the honored author at last year's bookfest. He does a great job and he even went out into the audience to get questions from those who raised their hands.

Readers who can't make it to these events on Friday are encouraged to attend a second talk by Ms. Kostova on Saturday, May 19th, afternoon at 1:00 PM. Both her vivid prose and her ties to the area make this a do not miss event.


During the two day event, over forty authors will be making presentations, meeting attendees, and autographing books. Mark your calendars and come join us for this wonderful weekend devoted to the art of writing and the joy of reading.

If you can make to to Flat Rock Community College near Hendersonville, NC, be sure to take advantage of this event.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Workshops starting at 1:30 PM

Honoree's Address by Elizabeth Kostova at 6:30 PM

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Doors open at 8:00 AM

Author Presentations (8:45 AM - 3:00 PM)

Blue Ridge Conference Hall

Blue Ridge Community College Campus

Flat Rock, NC

Visit the website for driving directions.

http://www.blueridgebookfest.org/

Contact Bill Ramsey with questions.l


Bill Ramsey
2012 Bookfest Chair
http://www.blueridgebookfest.org/

828-698-1022