Buckeye Book Fair

Some of my books on display at the Buckeye Book Fair.

The Buckeye Book Fair on Saturday November 4 was really great. Not a single Fufkin in sight. More than 3,000 people who still read books came through the doors of the OSU-Wooster Agricultural Research Center to buy books at a modest discount and have them signed by the authors.

People were waiting at the doors before the fair opened. Most of them wanted to meet two authors in particular: Dick Schafrath (former Browns standout) and Judith Viorst (best-selling self-help and kids' book author).

Julie and I signed more books yesterday than we've ever signed in a single day. And it reminded me how truly bad my handwriting and spelling can be. I really have to concentrate to spell tough names like Bill, Bob, Sue. And forget Phyllis or Marjorie or Anais or Roquefort. Nothing more embarrassing than handing someone a book in which you've misspelled a word.

Unjoy Ohio's beautyfel brids! Bile Thomaspson, III.

They usually don't notice if you close the cover quickly.

BT3 with another happy customer. I am sending him a subliminal message: You NEED more bird books!

The folks running the Buckeye Book Fair treated us well and the show ran like clockwork.

The sign might have more accurately said BT3 is Permanently Out To Lunch.

Sitting at a table, authors had their name a sign on a pole overhead, a reversible table tent with the book titles and prices on one side and a catchy "I'll be right back" message on the other, and little pads of paper where notes could be written. On the sign poles was a little red ribbon of felt. When you ran out of books or needed something, you scooted the ribbon up the flagpole and, seconds later, a young Book Fair helper was at your side, ready to solve all your problems. We timed their response to the ribbon raising. The best time was 11 seconds. The worst was just over a minute. Usually we asked them to fetch more books for our table. But sometimes we had other requests.

bookkeeper Worker: "Can I help you Mr. Thompson?"
BT3: "Yes young lady. Do you think these wide wale corduroys make me look fat?"
Book Fair Worker: "Yes they do, sir."
BT3: "Get thee away from me, knave!"

The notepads furnished to us came in handy when someone wanted something specific inscribed in their book. They could write it down for you to copy.

For Lucy:
If you ever pull the football out from under the foot of my pal Charlie Brown, he has my permission to beat you to death with this copy of Bird Watching For Dummies. With best wishes from a fellow traveler,

BT3

Some Ohio birding friends made the BBF scene, including Cheryl Harner and Su Snyder. And we chatted about birds and nature all day long. Lots of librarians there buying books for libraries. Lots of people buying books for holiday presents (bless you every one!).

JZ at her author station, selling Letters From Eden like hotcakes.

Most of all it was reassuring to see that books still play a vital role in the entertainment and happiness of many, many people. So I guess I'll keep on writing them. It IS pretty cool to be a book author and to have the experience of signing copies of your own books.

What I need now is a book on how to sign books with all the words legible and spelled correctly.