Random Tuesday: Bookfest, Giveaways & Summer
Bookfest
Last weekend I attended Bookfest, a one-day event in my community designed to showcase local literary talent. The keynote speaker this year was Mary Doria Russell, a New York Times best-selling author and Chicago area native. Her books, The Sparrow, Children of God and Thread of Grace to name a few, are probably familiar to many of you. Needless to say I was thrilled to get a ticket to hear her speak.
It was an enjoyable and entertaining hour and the time flew past. The focus of her speech was her new book, Doc, a fictionalized story about the life of Doc Holliday. I was amazed to find out how much of this novel is based on fact. She did extension research on the real life Doc Holliday, his early years, his family and the time he spent in Dodge City with the Earp brothers to separate fact, fiction and myth.
If you ever have the opportunity to hear Mary speak, don’t pass it up, you will not be disappointed. I’ve already read Doc and loved it. My review will be posted soon.
Literary Giveaway Blog Hop
The Literary Giveaway Blog Hop will be taking place from Saturday June 25th until (and including) Wednesday June 29th and is hosted by Judith at Leeswamme’s Blog. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, June 22nd, and there are already 60 blogs participating. That’s tomorrow, so you still have time to join.
Under My Apple Tree will be participating and my giveaway will be open internationally to any country the book depository will deliver. I’ll be giving away a copy of Doc by Mary Doria Russell.
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, the first day of summer. Conversely it is the beginning of winter for the southern hemisphere.
For centruies this major celestial event was celebrated with Midsummer Festivals (ie Shakespeare), dancing and bonfires. It is still celebrated today and can be see in such events as the gatherings at Stonehenge and our local festivals such as the annual Taste of Chicago, a 10-day outdoor food and music fest that begins next week. The sun itself unleashed a powerful flare today as a new solar storm erupted, perhaps in it’s own celebration of the solstice.
The beginning of summer is my favorite time of the year. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing and the days are long and pleasant. For those of us up north it’s time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. Before we know it winter will be back.
Really Random Tuesday is hosted on random Tuesdays by Suko at Suko’s Notebook. It’s a way to post odds and ends–announcements, musings, quotes–any blogging and book-related things you can think of.
Under My Apple Tree 
Leslie, thank you for doing RRT. I will link to your post today. The Bookfest and literary blog hop sound like fun.
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NIce, a bookfest! I love going to meeting where there are other bookish people – oops, I’m writing this on Tuesday night when some of my friends and friends of friends are going to an author reading. But the book didn’t look like anything I would read and I’d never heard of the author. Next time, maybe!
I don’t know the book you’re giving away but I like it that it’s the book that you heard about at the bookfest. Very nice!
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Doc is a fictionalized account of one of the years in the life of John Henry “Doc” Holliday, an American Old West legend. He’s usually remembered for his role in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral but that’s not the time period of this book. Even if you know nothing of Doc Holliday it’s a wonderfully written book and one I’d like to share with the world.
I enjoy ‘bookfests’ a lot. There’s something soothing about being in a room filled with bookish people as if we were all on the same wavelength.
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I’ve heard the name before but didn’t really know anything about him. I didn’t realise he was an Old West legend for instance, I had thought he’d been around more recently – maybe confusing him with Johnny Holiday? 🙂
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Oh my gosh, Bookfest sounds like so much fun! I can just imagine what a wonderful speaker Russell is.
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There must be something similar to Book Fest around here. I should start looking. I do have time for it this summer.
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