“Lucky 13”: Morristown book fest turns writers into rock stars

By Kristen Neymarc

At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and author Anna Quindlen drew such a crowd Saturday that people stood or sat on the floor.

The Rev. Canon Robert Picken, priest-in-charge, took it in stride.

“I definitely don’t get this many people to hear me preach,” he said, watching from the sacristy. “But I’m glad to have her here.”

Quindlen, who said the overwhelming scene would sustain her soul for six months, had even outdrawn CNN anchor and past favorite Jake Tapper, according to Wendy Supron, chair of the annual Morristown Festival of Books.

Rock-star status, indeed.

With six time slots and five competing author sessions spread across five venues, visitors to the festival faced a dizzying 10,000 possible ways to plan their day. Judging by the packed rooms, happy crowds and enthusiastic exchanges between readers and writers, there were plenty of ways to get it right.

And that’s not even counting KidFest.

More than 35 children’s authors and illustrators entertained young fans with stories, presentations and book signings, while face painting, glitter, balloon art and outdoor tossing games added to the fun. All free, although volunteers circulated among the crowds with hopeful red donation buckets.

The weather cooperated magnificently. “The Sun God was with us today,” declared Supron, celebrating the festival’s lucky 13th year.

The star turns began Friday at the sold-out 1,300-seat Mayo Performing Arts Center, where guests paid $65 apiece — the festival’s only paid event — to hear Malcolm Gladwell share his take on gun violence, The American Way of Killing, The Invention of an Epidemic. The ticket price included a copy of the book.

BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME

The Morristown Festival of Books has become a major October attraction, drawing an estimated 8,000 visitors over two days in recent years. Organizers had no final count for Saturday, but the packed venues, crowded signing lines and people scrambling for seats left little doubt about its popularity.

“This is a big deal,” said Rob Smith of Morristown, who has attended for at least five years. “It has grown so much. I think when it started, they would reach out to authors to get them to come in. Now the authors reach to Morristown to come in. I don’t think they have to ask anymore.”

Smith belongs to Book Club Two at Morristown’s Kellogg Club, which deliberately leaves its October selection open until the festival announces its authors. Members then vote on a book to read and discuss. He loved this year’s selection, Last Call at the Savoy by Brisa Carleton, and was first in line at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, copy in hand, with a burning question about a mysterious bartender named Joe who seemingly disappears from the story. Was he a ghost? Smith intended to find out.

Beth Earley of Bernardsville takes her preparations just as seriously. A member of 10 book clubs and a veteran of seven or eight festivals, she begins reserving books as soon as the author lineup appears.

“Hold, hold, hold,” she said, describing her rush to the library’s reservation system. By Saturday, she had read several featured authors and mapped out her entire day.

For Casey Lehmann, manager of Charmed and Bound, a romance bookstore in Flemington, the attraction was meeting two favorite authors. She arrived carrying copies of Tessa Bailey’s Broken Rival and Annabel Monaghan’s Dolly All the Time, then eagerly posed for photographs with the writers after their discussion.

But not everyone comes having read the books — or even intending to buy them.

One longtime attendee from Morristown, Sarah Rowe, compared the festival to a trade show or professional conference: “A lot of running around in a short time. Stressful but exciting.”

She admitted she might “gawk while they are in the book signing area” if an author is a “crazy-famous celebrity.” But she also comes to learn, catch up with friends and hear knowledgeable moderators. “Sometimes the moderators are more interesting than the authors,” she said.

As for buying books? “Don’t tell the organizers,” she joked, but “I do NOT plan to buy the book.” If a discussion intrigues her, she said, there’s always the library.

Andrew Vans, also from Morristown, was equally candid: “Part of the appeal is that this is a cultural event at which one can see and be seen.” He also noted that aspiring writers attend to learn how to write a suspense novel or do historical research

Barbara Ruggeri of Mendham, a retired teacher, came with sister retired teachers Jo Foster and Carol Dempsey. She bought a book after hearing a talk and was delighted by the atmosphere downtown.

“Morristown is alive. It is just fabulous to be here today,” she said. “The weather is gorgeous. Why not? It’s a walkable town. I love it. I just love it.”

THE LOVE GOES BOTH WAYS

The fans may treat the authors like rock stars, but the admiration is mutual.

Upstairs at the Presbyterian Church Parish House, fantasy authors, Jean Kwok and Elizabeth Lim had just wrapped up their session before a packed audience. Both were still glowing from the thoughtful questions, laughter at their jokes and thunderous applause.

Asked whether she ever imagined such attention when she began writing Kwok, replied: “No, absolutely no. This is a real dream come true because I was just like a poor immigrant trying to stay out of the factory.” A veteran of numerous book festivals, Kwok had particular praise for Morristown.

“I’ve done so many festivals. I think the audience and the community here is incredible. They’re book lovers. They’re warm. They’re friendly. They’re open.”

Lim appreciated another aspect of the experience.

“I think writing is such a solitary profession … it’s really nice to meet other authors and to connect with your readers and see that people are actually reading your stories.”

Romance novelists Annabel Monaghan and Tessa Bailey also enjoyed the enthusiastic reception from their fans. Had they ever imagined, when they first started writing, that they’d one day be treated like rock stars?

“Never!” exclaimed Monaghan. But both said they enjoyed the warmth of the crowds and the chance to meet their readers face to face.

Benjamin Hale, author of Cave Mountain, attended his first Morristown Festival of Books, appearing on a true-crime panel alongside Frank Storey, retired FBI official and author of The FBI’s War Against the Mafia. “I like doing things like this,” Hale said. “Not all writers do.”

The authors’ enthusiasm for Morristown is no accident. Supron, the festival chair, says the organizers work hard to make them feel welcome.

“We have lots of authors contacting us because we treat our authors really well,” Supron said. “We pay for car service. We give them a nice lunch.” Authors receive no appearance fees, but the hospitality gets noticed.

“It’s a very small author world, and so we have a very, very good reputation,” said Supron, who appeared on CBS New York’s Club Calvi Book Club ahead of the festival.

LITTLE HUMANS READ, TOO

KidFest was bursting with activity. Under crowded tents, children lined up for autographs, face painting and the chance to meet the people who created their favorite characters. At times, the crowds were almost overwhelming and one father with two little ones said he hoped organizers would consider larger venues next year to give everyone more breathing room.

Dan Gutman, whose wildly popular My Weird School series has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide, drew one of KidFest’s longest signing lines. The author of more than 190 children’s books, Gutman has built a devoted following with his wacky characters and irreverent humor. Nine-year-old Sophie of Summit summed up his appeal: “He really gets what it’s like to be a kid.”

Rob of Chatham was impressed by the variety of books for every age, from toddlers bedtime stories to older children reading independently.

He brought Hayes, 7, and Georgia, 5, after their teachers recommended the festival. It was their first visit, and they left with eight books. Even their2-year-old brother, who stayed home, got books.

For Rob, encouraging his children to read is personal. “I wish I was more of a reader growing up, so it’s something that I tried to get them to do from an early age,” he said. Hayes, already reading on his own in 1st grade, is proof that finding the right book can make all the difference.

“As long as you find like the topic that he wants, he takes it and he runs with it,” Rob said.

For Vivian Livergne, 9, of Morris Plains, the attraction was Dork Diaries. She and her mother, Beth Paul, spent three hours at the festival, meeting author Rachel Renée Russell and her daughter, illustrator Nikki Russell, and collecting signed books.

Vivian already had plans to show off her signed books to friends and encourage them to attend next year. Asked why they should come, she replied, “Because it’s fun.”

When asked whether she enjoyed reading, she affirmed; “I like to read. But that’s all I’m gonna say.”

Kevin Coughlin contributed to this report.

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