My 15th Annual Tucson Festival of Books Recap

The Great Reset Is Upon Us!

I enjoyed talking to this young man about history at the Tucson Festival of Books last weekend.

The Eagle Has Landed

He is an Eagle Scout and says he often seeks a “reset” by leaving his phone behind on long hikes in the wilderness. He told me he gravitates towards the mountain man era because he feels like that is when survival was the most raw and pure. Look out! These kids are going to make history new again by championing our past, just when we need it most.

All of this is so refreshing because we have had a generation—or two!—who have somewhat shunned or abandoned history as hokey or, worse, unnecessary.

“Take these broken wings and learn to fly. . .”

—Paul McCartney, Black Bird

Got home last night from Tucson at ten, bone tired but happy. I think it’s safe to say, I always hate going, but I always love having gone.

The Tucson Festival of Books On the University of Arizona Campus (that’s me in our booth, upper left)

That’s a joke, but our booth was close to Old Main, at upper left, and across from the Student Union (the big, white monster, center, right). As I mentioned yesterday it was a breath of fresh air to run into so many youngsters who are interested in history. Check it out:

A Young Girl Who Loves History!

Our Youngest Reader Is In The House!

Mama Buys Mag for her Hija

Best Overheard Ironic Remark

“I got into journalism because I knew there would always be newspapers.”

—Preston Lewis

Painful Learning Curve

One of my biggest takeaways this last weekend is the realization that I know nothing about “what sells.” Our neighbors, Steamy Lit, had rock concert lines all weekend with crowd control security to manage hungry, voracious rowdy female buyers and sales through the roof (one of the staffers told me it’s a $92 million dollars a year enterprise).

Our own Micki Fuhrman—caught between two tents—can’t seem to decide which booth to visit. She also quipped, the no show group on the left (Christian Women Authors) should change their name to “Steamy Christian.” Point taken, Micki!

Meanwhile, as the lines snaked in front of our tent, blocking anyone from approaching us, I went out to ask what the hub-bub was about and one of the very intelligent women held up this book.

Deep End Mamas

And, here is a synopsis of one of Ali’s other books:

“Love, Theoretically,” by Ali Hazelwood

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Here is the scene in our own tent