What authors said about the 2010 Festival

Festival Staff / March 23, 2010

Here's what some of our participating authors had to say about the 2010 Tucson Festival of Books:

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"We had an utterly wonderful time and can't thank everyone enough for their graciousness. Tucson has leapt into the first rank of our favorite places. The festival is grrrreat, but it's the people and city that make it so. Thanks for being so very nice to our family."

— Scott Simon (and family), author of "Windy City: A Novel of Politics,"
and host of NPR Weekend Edition

"I thought the festival was wonderful - and the volunteers were amazing!! Thanks for the invite, and please do invite me again to come next year. Congratulations on the huge success of the festival! Happy Reading."

— Alice Hoffman, "The Story Sisters"

"Take gorgeous weather, add 50,000 passionate readers, and stir in 450+ authors and you get the Tucson Festival of Books -a large-scale event that still feels personal and intimate - I was honored to be a part of it."

— Jamie Ford, "Hotel on the Corner

of Bitter and Sweet"

'Amazing speakers, friendly faces...'

"Think: rock festival for books, and you'd be on the right track. Amazing speakers, friendly faces, books galore - there's something here for everyone! It's hard to believe that the Tucson Festival of Books is only in its second year; it's that impressive. I've never seen anything like it. Mark it on your calendar for next year, if you missed this one. You won't be disappointed. I promise."

—Elissa Elliott, "Eve: A Novel"

"Hands down, the Tucson Festival of Books is one of the best festivals in the country - well organized, astoundingly attended, and just a happy happy place for authors and readers to come together. "

— Jennie Shortridge, "When She Flew"

"A friendly staff, an army of highly-educated, fascinating volunteers, large, book-loving (and book-buying) audiences, a beautiful setting, great promotion, and a roster of fabulous authors, the Tucson Festival of Books is one of the most pleasant and rewarding experiences for readers and writers alike."

—Gina Nahai, "Midnight on the Avenue of Faith"

"The Tucson Book Festival is a wonderful event in a beautiful setting; you can hike through cactus forests in the morning and talk about books all afternoon. The community is both intelligent and respectful, and the festival organizers know how to put together amusing and insightful panels and performances. I had a lovely time at the events, and also in Tucson itself."

—Amy Wilentz, "The Rainy Season: Haiti
Since Duvalier" and "Martyr's Crossing"

"Inspiring authors on thoughtful panels, friendly and well-organized volunteers, great weather, plus authentic Mexican food. Who could ask for more? I loved my weekend at the annual Tucson Book Festival and will return any time they'll have me."

—Masha Hamilton, "31 Hours" and "The Camel Bookmobile"

"The Tucson Festival of Books was a wonderful experience.It was fantastic to speak to such an engaged audience. Arizona should be proud of this new addition to her cultural attractions!"

—Maaza Mengiste, "Beneath the Lion's Gaze"

"The people we met were terrific and the spirit behind the event was infectious. You all deserve tremendous credit for creating something that puts books and reading in the spotlight and that draws so many people from the area, including so many children. It was a delight and we would certainly consider coming back. I've been raving about it to friends and fellow authors since we got back to Washington."

—Dan Balz, "The Battle for America 2008:
The Story of an Extraordinary Election"

"Writing is a solitary pursuit, often baffling and always humbling, so writers don’t usually make a lot of noise. And passionate readers tend to tuck themselves into corners and be pretty quiet too. But you would never have guessed any of that on the U of A campus last weekend, when thousands of people poured onto the Mall and walked around in the sunshine getting joyous over books."

—Elizabeth Gunn, "The Ten-Mile Trials,"
"New River Blues"

"Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience at this year's Festival of Books. Luis and I had a grand time with friends old and new. It is always such an amazing thing to get to meet readers and fans. For Luis to have the sort of showcase Tucson gave him, means more to both of us than I can possibly express. Just know you have our undying loyalty. There are plenty of book festivals out there and most writers see them as a necessary evil. When we find one where writers are celebrated, treated well, and given the opportunity to share their work and purpose, it is indeed a cherished experience. We are spreading the word and if there is anything we can do to help you, please let us know."

—Luis and Cindy Urrea, "The Hummingbird's Daughter"
and "Into the Beautiful North"

"I had a wonderful time in Tucson, and am impressed with the outstanding job you have done in creating a superior festival. Everything about it was first rate, entertaining, and relaxed - perfect for book people! And, best of all, the people I met were all wonderful. Thanks again for inviting me."

—Robert Crais, "The First Rule"

"I'm at home now, and my dogs and cats and family have begun to recognize me again, so I wanted to write to you and tell you how much I enjoyed the Festival of Books. Great work. We all had a fine time, and I, for one, learned quite a bit from the people I listened to. Once again, thanks for your kindness and hospitality."

—Thomas Perry, "The Butcher’s Boy"

"I am a native Tucson and am so proud of our town and all the people who put this wonderful event together. I've signed my books and been on panels for two years, and last year was great, but this year was even better."

—Mary Ellen Barnes, "Forged by Fire: The Devastation
and Renewal of a Mountain Community"

"Thank you for a fabulous weekend. The Festival was great. The panels were well attended, everything was well organized, and people actually bought books! What a concept. This will probably be the highlight of my year."

—Libby Hellmann, "Doubleback"

"Congratulations to you and the team of volunteers for another successful Festival. The excitement and energy from the crowd was electrifying. My family really had a great time and we are ready for next year’s event. It was great to hear and see people talking about how the Festival is helping improve literacy outcomes in our community. There were a lot more families at the event including Hispanic and Native American families. In my opinion, the crowd was very diverse."

—Tomas Leon, Festival moderator
and Vice President, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona

"The attendees were enthusiastic and I had a marvelous time. What a joy to see people of all ages having such a good time. The Tucson Festival should be No. 1 on the list after last weekend!!"

—Marilyn Anne Pate, "Everyday Evil: Even When
Forgiven, Abuse is Never Forgotten"

"What a FABULOUS event. I feel honored to be a part of the planning and part of the day. As an author and as someone who works closely with authors and the reading public, I can tell you that you touched many people, probably in ways that you would never expect. It's really wonderful."

—Lynn Wiese, "Holistic Parenting"