Another early arrival, Veronica Church, had moonshine shirts in jars.
James Nagy, author of Franklin County, displays a poster of some of Rocky Mount's historic sights. Rumor has it that he might have a new book in time for next year's festival.
Dwight Hayes had his book, Banished From Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as his photos on display. Fellow photographer Bill Mitchell stopped by to check out Dwight's old camera.
Here's a closer look.
Lots of folks looked through the camera.
Dwight's photos were certainly eye-catching.
Lots of folks tried to identify some of the people in the photographs below.
Pam Hain sang with Ladies of the Lake again this year, but this was the first time she was in the tent with her latest book, Murder in the State Capital.
The Lake Writers have been in this spot for the last three years. Sally Roseveare and Mike Davis have attended all three festivals, but Kim Dalferes—author of I Was in Love with a Short Man Once—was a newcomer.
JoAnne Anderson (Noble Spirit) was also a newcomer, but Barbara Roberts (What a Christmas!) was a returnee.
Another novelist and newcomer was Pamala Warren (The Recital).
Tina Hanlon and Cara Modisett have also been here before. Tina had a wonderful display of Appalachian literature, and Cara had books (Blue Ridge Parkway Impressions and CDs.
Behind Cara's books was another newcomer, Otis Lee, Jr. (and his wife Michelle), from Earlysville. He's a first time author with his memoir/family history, From South Boston to Cambridge Lawyer.
To the left of Otis is returnee Ginny Brock, with By Morning's Light. Left of Ginny is Rocky Mount resident Ray Keys, who was very helpful with assisting the authors. Behind the red tablecloth was another Lake Writer here for the first time—Fred Waddell, who wrote What Colleges and Universities don't Want You to See.
Jean Schaeffer, another first-timer to the festival, had her late father's history/memoir, This Pleasant Land, a well as her own book, She Came with "Only One Suitcase." She'll have another book ready for next year.
Aaron McAlexander, another newcomer, had his two memoirs, Will the last One Leaving Mayberry Please Turn Out the Lights and So Much to Learn. His wife Glenda brought some of her beautiful pottery. Festival committee-woman Betty Huffman checks out Aaron's book, while another newcomer, Franz Beisser (Red Solstice) looks on.
Here I am at my display . . . and visiting with Otis Lee.
The oldest author at the festival was Lillian Hannabass Howell (Life with Charlie), who shared a table with her son, Tom Howell.
Not only people were under the tent, but so were some dogs. Joanne Anderson brought her two labs:
Two charming sheltie therapy dogs visited. Since they participate in a reading to dogs program, they were right at home among books.
They visited with Morris Stephenson (A Night of Makin' Likker) and his wife Hazel.
A chocolate lab also came through the tent.
Returning for the third year, was Sally Roseveare's King, who appears in her Smith Mountain Lake murder mysteries. Unlike the other labs in the tent, King isn't a real dog.
Many of the folks who were in the tent will be back next year. Y'all come see us.
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