Authors Tent September 29

The 2012 Mountain Spirits Festival is history. Everyone seemed to have a pretty good time, and the weather cooperated, too. Rain stopped a couple of hours before the festival began and didn't start until nearly an hour after the festival was over.

In anticipation of the crowd, authors started setting up early. Ibby Greer was the first one there. Her late husband's book, The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1934, was popular. Franklin County is, after all, the moonshine capital of the world.

Some exhibitors brought their assistants. Kayleigh had breakfast while watching Beverly Merritt's display.

Shea Lemone set up his two novels next to Curtis Nestor's non-fiction book.

Despite his moonshine jug, Charles Lytton had the most dignified display—but his two books of memoirs are strictly down-home.

Veronica Church, a member of Lake Writers, had some jars of moonshine-related merchandise for sale.

Morris Stephenson didn't have his moonshine memoir in time for the festival, but he had a poster of the cover, and he took orders for the soon-to-be-published book. Lots of folks reserved a copy.

Before long, the tent was full of authors, and a crowd gathered. James Nagy's new book, Franklin County, was the most popular one. He always had a line in front of his table.

Here's the line. Some folks bought several copies of Franklin County.

While authors signed books, bands played beside the authors tent. Aspen Black and her group Empowered were the first musicians to entertain the crowd.

After Aspen's group had finished, Charles Lytton told the crowd a few stories.

And then Morris Stephenson told a few stories.

During the day, many book lovers visited the authors' tent and many authors fraternized with each other. Below, Keith Ferrell chatted with Jim Morrison and Cara Modisett.

Keith also visited with Fred First.

Morris visited folks at the Appalachian literature table—Lynn Salsi, Rex Stephenson, and Tina Hanlon.

Later Rex visited Morris's display.

Karen Hall visited with Ibby Greer.

Peggy Shifflett and Ethel Born, both members of Roanoke Valley Pen Women, conversed.

Dwight Hayes had both his photography and his book at his table.

Lots of folks stopped to admire Dwight's photo of the train. 

Judith Riker Damon's display included the pictures that she painted to illustrate A Genteel Spy.

Three writers groups were represented: Lake Writers (far left), Valley Writers (middle), and Piedmont Writers (right). 

Among other books, the Piedmont Writers were selling their anthology.

Some random pictures under the tent:

Several dogs attended the festival. This cute little dog came with Judith Riker Damon.

But this friendly girl escaped from her nearby home and came to see what was happening. Sally Roseveare, one of the Lake Writers, caught her. Sally's two Smith Mountain Lake murder mysteries feature a black labrador. Soon the owner came and claimed the escapee. 

The day ended with music and some very talented young cloggers.

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Note: Not all the authors and their books were pictured above—just a representative sampling.