Crime at the Brooklyn Book Festival

Annamaria on Monday

After the demise, after twelve years, of my beloved
 espresso machine, I began Sunday with a coffee at my
favorite local coffee bar.

At the MWA-NY booth, My friend Ann Aptaker--the chapter's organiser--and
I arrived early to set things up.  Members were schedule to sign books throughout
the day.

The BBF is the largest such festival I know.  It extends for acres--with hundreds
of booths.

Our booth was very near the elegant, historic Brooklyn Courthouse

Traffic at our booth was steady and enthusiastic all day.

Just behind out space was the main stage, where hundreds listened
panels of writers

There were book buyers galore

These people are listening to poets talk about their work

Along with my friend Alex Segura, I took my turn at the
last slot in the afternoon and signed many books,  Best of
all, I had time with my tribe of warm, friendly, talented writers
on a splendid September day.

Murder in Brooklyn: BBF 2015

This annual celebration of the book is open to the public, free of charge.
On a gorgeous day like the one we had yesterday, it draws tens of thousands,
making it the largest public book fest in New York.

I organized the appearance of MWA-NY writers and arrived before our crew
to get things set up and ready

The first authors took their places at 10:30 AM: Terrance McCauley, Rich Trachman, and Bill Syken

The venue is just over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan.  The throngs
started building early.

Kickoff photo

Charles Salzburg, Rich Zahradnik, and Scott Adlerberg, with me and my fellow
volunteer--Jeff Markowitz in the background.  

The villain of the piece was a food truck.  You can see it in the background
of just about every shot.  It ran its motor, emitting lots of noise and fumes.

Some of the visitors were happy for the noodle truck.  It went on all day.

We had a good time anyway--Gray Basnight, Sheila York, and Nina
Mansfield.  That's fellow volunteer Linda Frank looking on at the right. 

Journalist-mystery writers Dick Belsky and Nancy Bilyeau, with

Tim O'Mara getting ready to serve the refreshments.

We had all the beverages that begin with W: water, wine, and whiskey.

I took my turn along with Wendy Corsi Staub.

Me, Wendy, and Lyndsay Faye.
They are great writers and lovely friends.

Blue sky and lots of enthusiastic readers, what could be better.  The crowds kept up until the end.

For me it was a ten hour day outdoors, and I am finishing this post up at nearly midnight.  Nighty night is all I can add right now.

Annamaria - Monday