The second annual Quarry Festival of Books took place Saturday, bringing local and regional authors to Dunn Meadow to sell, sign and share their books with students and Bloomington residents. The festival was organized by Indiana University Press, Bloom Magazine, WFIU and WTIU.
Dave Hulsey, associate director of IU Press, said the event was meant to highlight the authors. Of the over 20 different authors present at the event, 16 were local Bloomington writers.
“It’s a celebration of the authors,” Hulsey said. “It gives the authors a chance to meet the public.”
Along with Hulsey was his dog, Allie, sporting a red paw-print bandanna. Allie is the front-cover star of IU Press’s book "Campus Canines: The Dogs of Indiana University". The book documents 150 photographs of dogs showing their IU spirit on campus and around the country.
Before last year, Bloomington didn’t have a book festival that focused on authors. The only other book festival available was the Bloomington Community Book Fair, which focuses on selling used books. Event organizers were surprised that this gap in the artistic Bloomington community existed.
“A lot of major towns have book festivals, and Bloomington didn’t," Hulsey, said. "The University is here, the students are here, and the authors are here, so it just made sense.”
The tented event in Dunn Meadow had authors sitting behind white folding tables with their books prominently on display, ready to speak with readers and sign books.
“It’s a great opportunity to not only support local authors but also the IU Press,” said Janet Decker, event attendee and assistant professor in the School of Education.
Decker said she came because she brought her mom from out of town who went to last year’s festival and enjoyed the event. Decker hoped to get a copy of Jane Ammeson’s "Hauntings of the Underground Railroad".
Authors at the festival were just as excited to meet their readers and share their stories.
“It’s a lot of fun because you get to meet people who love books,” said Angie Klink, one of the authors at the festival.
Klink is the author of eight books, including the children’s lift-the-flap book "I Found U". The book follows the iconic letters of IU as “I” searches around the University at various landmarks for his friend “U.” Klink is also the author of a similar children’s book, "Purdue Pete Finds His Hammer", centering on the unofficial mascot of Purdue University. This book was not on display at the festival.
However, the festival had more than just children’s books. Keven McQueen said his book "Horror in the Heartland" is a historical horror-comedy. Each chapter focuses on a different Midwest state, with stories of grave robberies, murders, premature burials and more. McQueen said he does his best to put a comedic twist on his stories.
“I figure that if you can make people shudder and laugh at the same time, that’s really an achievement,” McQueen said.
Michelle Sybert, an event organizer and employee at IU Press, said she hoped attendees would find their next favorite book. And with the opportunity to meet writers, Quarry Festival of Books made already close-to-home authors seem a little more personal.
“It’s so rewarding to see our authors interacting with their readers,” Sybert said.
