I was there for the Saugatuck StoryFest at Westport Public Library, a three-day event with lots of authors from all genres, panels, signings, and other silverfish-food related activities. To give context, this is only the second year they’ve put this thing on, and they got R.L. Stine for a keynote. Next year, they’re getting Neil Gaiman.
I was prepared to be extremely overwhelmed at this event. Especially as I was an invited participant. I have close to zero conference experience, didn’t really know anybody there that well, and—though I didn’t admit it to my hosts—I’d never been on a panel before.
The library is great, with a large, brand-new, open auditorium that seems to be its centerpiece. There’s nothing better than a thriving library.
Here were my highlights:
- Seeing R.L. Stine (my second time; first was at the Edgar Awards)
- Hanging with horror authors—everybody on that stage in the first photo is somebody whose work I dig, and one of them is my favorite contemporary horror author right now
- Lunch with Sam Weller, Ray Bradbury’s biographer
- Signing Death and Douglas for kids (I haven’t done any events that involve D&D or kids, so this was a particular exciting part for me)
- Both panels I was on (nonfiction and horror) which were filled with way-interesting authors
- Dumping a glass of wine on the shoes of the executive director of the library