(Editor’s note: Columns often contain opinion and those opinions belong to the author)
David Hutchison, tall, lanky, creative, and bearded, figuratively taps around the wooden floors of The Book Tavern as the Willy Wonka of the Augusta Book Community. Only, he lacks the top hat and, instead of chocolate delights, has many books to share.
During the last weekend before Christmas, he and his staff helped local authors through multiple day in-store events which would have led even the most organized Oompa-Loompas to disaster. Yet the busy weekend went well.
I have known David for more than a decade as an author and friend. He has done a lot for local authors at his old and new location of The Book Tavern. From having us in the Belk building hallway in front of his store at previous Arts in the Heart Festival to old store signings to in-store signing events at the new, he has been a true patron. He and his staff have supported authors by having our work in stock and have been a great source of information about regional, national and international titles for guests.
The Book Tavern has a huge regional / local author section on shelves just to the left before you get to the steps leading to the children’s section on the second floor
One of David’s employees, Alex Sigers, assists David and helps plan and coordinate literary events such as the many which occurred this holiday weekend. She facilitated a special edition of Story Time (for children) at the store on Saturday, Dec. 20 and had a kid’s craft table and Dog Man Scavenger Hunt planned in hopes of young shoppers.
However, most of the plans did not go to use. Mostly childless adults came into the store during the majority of the event, and one family came in initially and rushed out to complete other tasks.
The attending authors and I took it all in stride and took the time to practice reading aloud for future events. But we did so with each other.
Nevertheless, a few hours into the event, families with children did finally start to attend. New guests supported the signing authors by buying their books, getting them signed before going out the door.
Benita Martin, author of “Fresh Fish Tales,” read aloud her book and played a ukulele with little songs between her fish stories within one book – all of which tended to have a moral lesson and factual information about fishes as well as the creative tales about their adventures and misadventures.
Christina Petrides sold a copy of “Mr. Fisker’s Whiskers,” a children’s book with a positive portrayal of facial hair. She had many children’s and other books available. But we noted that she had the ideal audience for this particular sale because a young gentleman bought the book.
Cathy Goldberg Fishman, who brought along a menorah to place on a bench beside her while she read-aloud, read a unique counting book, “A Winter Walk in the City,” which explored diversity in the city by counting diverse facets within it. For example, items from different cultures were counted in the narrative.
She has other counting books but, at the event, read a book about Hanukkah alongside the menorah.
Ekaette Kern, author of “Colors of Me,” also participated in the read aloud. Her book is focused on biracial children and making them feel special about themselves while celebrating diversity.
Clay Hadden, author of “I Hear Nature” and speech language pathologist, had his wife and children come to support his read-aloud and book signing. His book focuses on sounds heard during a nature hike, is interactive, and engages toddlers and babies in early language skills.
At the start of the event, I read aloud my fantasy Oz children’s picture book, “Goldey Goosey of Oz,” and sang the public domain “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” lyrics which are a part of the narrative. David, Alex, and some of the others said it sounded good. But I ended up selling “Ziggy Zig-zags the Light and Dark Fantastic,” my fantasy Corgi graphic novel, instead.
An hour after our event, a popup fantasy author signing occurred at the store with Dallas Anne Duncan, author of the Meridian Trilogy. She said many of her family members have her books but came to support her at her signing anyway.
H.T. Mejia, who also participated, sat to Duncan’s right and signed copies of “The Ballad of Wrath and Death.”
They mentioned having participated in the comic con circuit like other fantasy and science fiction authors.
On Sunday, Dec. 21, The Book Tavern will be hosting a Local Author Holiday Faire. According to their Facebook page, the event is to celebrate local talent this winter and to “discover some hidden gems” while “making real connections to your neighborhood.” The focus is on buying local.
On Friday evening, Dec. 19, among the other events David and Alex planned and with which other staff have assisted, The Book Tavern hosted a Live Poetry Evening.
Petrides from the children’s book event read poetry at the event on Friday and stated over 20 people attended, counting the eight guest poets.
Other participating poets included the following:
Arthur Turfa, Candice Kelsey, Moet Williams, Centell Jackson, Erica Lawson, Jada D’Antignac, and Erin Weeks. Check the store for signed copies of their work.
Keep up with The Book Tavern at http://www.thebooktavern.com and at their Facebook page and support the creative connoisseur of books.
Ron Baxley, Jr. is a veteran journalist who has been a published author for 34 years and is working on writing a Southern-set television series. His latest satirical Southern fantasy Oz book, “O.Z. Diggs the Fifth Estate” is the third in the O.Z. Diggs VII series. For additional columns and fiction, go to https://substack.com/@ronbaxleyjr . Contact him via ronbaxleyjr.com .
