A Visit to the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

I'm just back from a trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Book Festival - what an incredible event! (Third visit for me.) If you haven't ever attended, do put it on your list to one day attend this love fest for BOOKS and AUTHORS! With over 50,000 people in attendance in 2026, I was surrounded by kindred spirits. Here are a few pics from Saturday . . .

(Left) Here I'm at the Florida state booth w/ Florida Humanities Assoc. Director, Patricia Putnam. We had the pleasure of stamping passports from readers of all ages - as they completed their quest to gather stamps from 50 states and 6 territories! Thousands visited the booth, so it was great fun to greet so many readers. (Note our coordinating American stripes--unplanned, but we were clearly thinking alike when we packed our bags.)

The Roadmap to Reading (left) is a big attraction. Here I am (above) working in the afternoon with friend and retired librarian, Diane Johnson. We talked to so many readers of all ages who were curious about Florida, or had visited Florida and wanted to hear about our 2026 book selections. Those who collected all the passport stamps earned a special prize (I won't tell - but something readers and writers would love!) It was great fun!

I had time to attend two terrific programs -- one a Q&A with NF author Lois Romano, author of AN INCONVENIENT WIDOW, the new biography of Mary Todd Lincoln. (Currently reading - such a terrific book.) Later in the day I attended a program about poet Mary Oliver with the director of the new documentary detailing her life and work. That ballroom was "standing room only"! I was floored by the number of poetry fans in attendance! It was good to be with so many others who love reading or writing poetry.

For America250 celebrations, my book about Abraham Lincoln, illustrated by Dave Szalay, was named to the Great Reads from Great Places list--an incredible honor.