Let’s take a break from rules on capitalization and focus on a recent literary event in central Ohio that apparently made quite an impact. The Columbus Book Festival took place on July 15 and 16 inside the main Columbus Metropolitan Library, and in the plaza and topiary garden east of the library. I have been to more than 20 book festivals or fairs, but this one was by far the largest and most comprehensive. In addition to panel discussions, author signings, and book sales, there were tents for representatives of bookstores and literary organizations from throughout central Ohio. At times, the book festival reached beyond the literary arts and embraced other types of creativity. Some tents, for example, featured people selling hand-crafted items; there were also stage performances by musicians and rap artists and places where children could frolic and make chalk drawings.

I started off indoors, looking over the large array of books that were on sale. These books, organized by genre, were spread across several adjoining tables on the second floor. I didn’t buy any, but instead went through the YA novels, taking note of their publishers. Some, I thought, might be interested in Diary of a Girl in Trouble (DOAGIT) someday.

I considered attending some of the panel discussions, but these seemed more oriented to readers rather writers. Accordingly, I spent most of my time outdoors, looking over and sometimes visiting the people in the tents.

My first stop was at the Ohioana Library, where I chatted with Executive Director David Weaver and some of his staff. Thurber House and Gramercy Bookstore followed. At the former, I inquired about online writing programs my granddaughter Evie might be able to take. I got a pleasant surprise when I came across the tent for the Columbus Children’s Theater. They ceased operation during the COVID pandemic but are now back in business, with some of their productions now at the Lincoln Theatre. Their upcoming season includes The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Mr. Scrooge. Another tent where I spent some time was the one for Gatekeeper Press. Their owner, Rick Price, made a presentation to Writers’ Ink a number of years ago. His outfit might be a good replacement publisher for Fast=Pitch Love, but (no offense to him), I might like to aim a little higher with DOAGIT.

By far, the biggest chunk of my time was spent at the “Indie” tent. This is where I made my only purchase of the day — Pat Snyder’s Best of Balancing Act. It is a collection of the newspaper columns she wrote about the challenges and joys of making a home in an increasingly complex and bewildering world. I think it will make a good gift for Rachel. After chatting with Pat for a bit, I perused the other books on sale under the “indie” tent. Fantasy stories were plentiful, but so too were graphic novels. In fact, I can’t recall seeing so many graphic novels for sale at any previous book fair. The authors themselves — about 75 in number — were packed in close together at small tables. Given the heat, I didn’t envy them.

I made some quick stops at a number of other tents before concluding with the one for the Columbus Metropolitan Library itself. When I asked whether the book festival would become an annual event, a yellow-shirted staff member responded, “probably yes.” Her optimism is justified, inasmuch as some 33,000 people attended this inaugural festival.

Apart from Pat Snyder’s book, my only other purchase was two water bottles for the Ohioana staff. The heat seemed to be wearing them out — and doing the same to a lot of other fair participants. Indeed, on a survey I completed later, I suggested that complimentary water bottles be given to all the people staffing the tents at any future book festival. And speaking of future Columbus book festivals, I hope there are some — and I hope I’m part of them, heat or no heat.