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Baltimore Book Festival 2010

Normally, I attend the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., but this year, I was asked to join a panel of Book Bloggers at the Baltimore Book Festival.  Instead of exhausting myself even more this Sept. after an extended visit from my parents and brother, I decided to stick to one event this year.

I’m not the most talkative person and I often shy away from public speaking if I can help it, but this sounded like a good opportunity, and I got to hang out with some of my favorite bloggers in person — Swapna, Julie, Candice, Heather, Nicole, and Allie.  The other bonus for me was being able to talk about blogs and how they can be used to provide greater coverage for poets and poetry; something I hope I accomplished.

I want to thank Heather for setting up the great panel and for the detailed instructions and preparation that she did.  Wonderful job.  Also, I want to thank the Baltimore Book Festival personnel for being so kind and helpful when I couldn’t find the reception room for panelists!  The room was gorgeous in an older Baltimore home turned publisher’s office, and the food was delicious.  They even offered Mimosas, but I had to decline or I would have giggled my way through the panel.

Prior to the book festival, I tagged along with Anna, her family, and my hubby as we checked out the Walters Art Museum.  I left my hubby in charge of photos this time around.  I’d like to have more time to check out the museum, but the rare manuscript and book room was fantastic.   I’ll provide you with a slide show for both the museum and blogger panel.

I was nervous as expected, but once I met everyone on the panel — or should I say met Celeste and David whom I did not know before — I was more at ease.  The panel talked about the basics of book blogging, author/publisher relationships with bloggers, and much more.   Heather did a great job keeping us on track, but the questions from the audience were few. I’m also not sure how helpful I was about cybersecurity for the woman working with Montgomery County Public Schools and other student-teaching programs.  I think I would have liked more questions, so if you have any, feel free to ask them here.

Here are some synopses from other sources:  Reading Local, Baltimore Sun (I’m even quoted in this one and my name is spelled correctly), Read Street,  and I’m sure there are others I may have missed (please send links and I will add them).

And here’s the slide show you’ve been waiting for, I’m sure: