In 1969, more than 100,000 people converged on a dairy farm in upstate New York for "three days of peace and music" that came to be known as Woodstock.
This weekend in Memphis, more than 100,000 people — okay, that number may be a bit high — will converge on the Benjamin Hooks Central Library for Bookstock, a one-day event that will let guests meet their favorite local authors, purchase books, and attend seminars on book publishing.
And yes, our very own Vance Lauderdale will be making a rare public appearance, signing books and talking with fans of his "Ask Vance" books, magazine column, and blog.
Here's how the library is describing the event:
This one-day event is sure to be music to the ears of book-lovers across the Mid-South. Held Saturday, October 1st, starting at 10:30 am, Memphis-area authors will be at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library to meet and greet the public. Your favorite hometown authors will also discuss and sign their books. Adding to the festivities is the opportunity to attend workshops to help budding and seasoned writers.
"Goal, Motivation, and Conflict" will be conducted by acclaimed publisher Debra Dixon. For those looking to get their books in print, Candace Spicer presents "How to Get Published." A two-topic session conducted by library staffers Wayne Dowdy and Alan Stewart, a seminar called "Research 101 and How to Get Your Book on Library Shelves" covers the resources available to writers in the History Department and library policies related to purchasing books respectively. The one-hour workshops will be held twice — at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to attend a live show taping? Bookstock offers you the chance. At 1 p.m. Stephen Usery, producer for the syndicated broadcast Book Talk program, interviews Mark Greaney (author of Gray Man). Seating is limited for the Book Talk program and workshop registration is required.
Seating is limited at the seminars. To register, call 415-2709. For more information and a specific schedule of the seminar events, visit the Bookstock website.
