After a binge of running around, I’m finally settling down.
Less than a week after returning home after cavorting through Iowa (as related in my previous two posts), I embarked on another adventure. This one, closer to home: The Ohioana Book Festival.
I first heard about this event from my sister, Holly, who recently retired from thirty years with the the Cleveland Health Sciences Library. But I guess she became familiar with Ohioana when she was a member of the Church and Synagogue Library Association rather than through the Health Sciences Library. (Is that right, Holly?) At any rate, she told me about the book festival, I applied, and was invited to attend as an author this year. I asked her if she’d like to go along to keep me company, and she agreed.
It was fun. Since she lives about an hour and a half away, she drove to our house on Friday evening so we’d be ready to leave bright and early the next morning. The directions I had said it would take two hours to get there, so we left at 7:15 am, hoping to arrive in plenty of time for the opening at 9:45, even allowing for delays.
Ha! I should have gotten directions from the event website rather than Mapquest. The directions I had would probably have been accurate under ordinary circumstances, but 
they didn’t take into account the massive road work. I was supposed to take I-70 W to I-71 N, then get off on I-670; but that exit ramp was closed. I went back to I-70 to see if I could find an alternate route, but no luck.
We stopped twice for directions and bought a Columbus map. Using a combination of these resources, we finally arrived at our destination at 10:20. I don’t think I missed anything important, and despite the rocky start, it turned out to be a good day.
After the book fair ended, we went to a reception at the Governor’s Residence gardens. Despite the name “residence,” no one actually lives there. But it’s a nice place to visit. Got to meet some more of the other authors and in some cases their spouses, and also toured the house and gardens. Then we headed home and arrived in good time with no incidents, tired but satisfied.
Holly & me at the Governor's Residence
The next morning Holly visited my church with me, went to lunch with the family, and then headed for home. It was a very enjoyable weekend (for me, at least — I think she had a good time as well). I think that’s the only time we’ve ever spent a weekend together like that. Maybe we can do it again sometime!
Before I go, I’d like to share a few things from the Book Festival. Besides meeting some interesting authors and others, I got to visit with my oldest daughter, Emily, who lives in Columbus. Also, friends Chuck & Joy Holt.
Joy had purchased The Story in the Stars online from Amazon and brought her copy with her for me to sign. But when I opened it to the title page, I was surprised to find my signature, along with the words (in my handwriting), “Praying for you, dear reader.”
Huh? It took me a few moments to figure it out, but here’s what seems to have happened: A few months ago I saw a request (passed along by someone in a Yahoo group I’m in) for donations of books. A woman was collecting books in order to start a library at a woman’s shelter in her town. I donated two copies, and that “Praying for you” inscription was what I’d written in each one.
It’s possible that one of the ladies in the women’s shelter stole the book and sold it on Amazon. But it’s also likely that the whole request-for-donations thing was a scam to begin with. I’ll probably never know for sure.
Another point of interest: one of the other authors at the festival was Mike Olszewski, an old friend of my brother’s from Bedford High School.
Third: The festival was well attended. One of the browsers I saw wandering around was a young guy in a green T-shirt sporting the words “Honk If You Love Jesus.” When he passed by, I said, “Based on what your T-shirt says, you might like my book.” He looked at it and said, “I might…”
I asked. “Do you like sci-fi?” He shrugged. “Yeah… I do…” So I explained that it’s a sci-fi story from a Christian point of view.
His face took on an odd expression. “Well, I wouldn’t say I’m a Christian.”
At that point, my expression was probably a little odd too. I said, “Really? Because your shirt seems to suggest that you are.” His reply: “Well, I love Jesus, but that doesn’t mean I’m a Christian.”
I tried to follow that logic. “That’s a bit of a mind-bender for me,” I started to say, but he abruptly turned and walked away.
Well. Okay. That was interesting.
Sunday afternoon, I finished with the last round of edits on Words in the Wind, Book #2 in my Gateway to Gannah series. Haven’t seen any cover art yet nor heard a release date, but stay tuned. I expect the book will be out this summer, and then you’ll wish I’d stop talking about it. Personally, I like the 2nd book better than the first. I hope you’ll let me know your opinions once you have the opportunity to read it.
American Christian Fiction Writers
