The second annual Bucks County Book Festival filled Doylestown Borough with book lovers, authors, illustrators and publishers.
Throughout the weekend, people of all ages came to hear best-selling writers such as Anna Quindlen and Floyd Cooper discuss their craft and browse tents filled with books on every topic from military stories and scary mysteries to self-help and a plethora of children’s books.
Mary Fowler came to meet the author of a favorite book, “Searching for Oz.”
“I wanted to meet Adele (Saccarelli-Cavallaro),” said Fowler, of Perkasie. “I wound up buying two books,” she added, with a smile, as she walked along tent-lined Clinton Street.
As folks strolled through the parking lot behind The Doylestown Book Shop, many stopped to add to a large poster asking “What Book Changed Your Life?” Among the dozens of responses were “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Christine and Pat DeFilippis came from Montgomery County with their 14-month-old son, Nico, to see what the book fest had to offer. The author of “The Perfection Detox,” Petra Kolber, was also on Christine’s list of reasons to visit.
Nico got a book too – Avacado Mustache. “He loves to read and be read to,” said Pat DeFilippis.
For the first time, book festival organizers created a “One Book” community reading event and hope to continue the program next year. This year’s book was “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” by Garth Stein.
Author Leanne Treese, who wrote “The Language of Divorce,” was pleased with the response she was getting at her stand. Her debut novel gained the attention of a local book club, which plans to read it, she said.
While the festival was considered a success, organizers said, they hope to increase the diversity of offerings going forward.
“We want to showcase diversity in authors and subject matter … to insure every voice is heard and every reader is engaged and inspired,” read a statement on the event’s website.
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