Sometimes it’s nice to go places where we feel like we belong. Depending on your interests and where you live, finding those places can be a real challenge.

That’s why it was such a treat to spend Saturday at the West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston. This was the 19th year. I have attended a few times but Saturday was the first time I spent almost the entire day.

We went down the night before and did some book shopping, had dinner, and rested up for an early and active day.

There’s an enormous used book sale at the festival, the kind where people show up with wagons, big totes on wheels, and shopping carts to stock up on their favorite books and movies. There’s also a marketplace with nonprofits, small publishing houses, self published authors, and people selling bookish things. There’s stuff for kids to do. There are writing workshops which I didn’t get to participate in because I spent my whole day listening to authors talk and then waiting in line to have books signed.

It was marvelous.

We heard historical fiction (and now magical realism) writer Kate Quinn talk about her career and about her most recent books. We heard nonfiction writer Margot Lee Shetterley talk about reaching for the stars and her book Hidden Figures as well as the movie of the same name. We also heard Longmire series writer Craig Johnson whose presence reminded me of a front porch chat with a favorite uncle.

Each of them was informative, entertaining, and inspiring in their unique way. They all were kind and friendly when they signed my books. Craig Johnson was downright jovial, excited to meet his readers and to support local libraries. He even volunteered his time for a ticketed reception the night before to raise money for the library. He also stopped a minute to offer solicited advice to a wannabe writer like myself.

As someone who enjoys books and words, I admire all three of these writers for their perseverance and ability to make a living doing something they love. While a lot of us dream of writing a book, they have devoted their careers to doing just that and being successful at it.

Here in Ohio, I have seen a number of book fairs and events advertised but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of author talks or writing workshops at these events. Sometimes you can see an author speaking at one of the bigger libraries or bookstores. Lately, a lot of these talks have gone to a ticketed format where you get a book along with admission. This isn’t affordable to many.

So, what a gift it is to the world that West Virginia puts on such a professional event packed with literally more than you can do in a day. It is free and the booksale prices are more than fair, making it accessible for about anyone who wishes to come and listen or take home a bag of gently used books.

I admire and envy the folks down there and already look forward to hearing who they will have next year,

We did skip out on the most popular speaker of the day. RL Stine drew such interest that people were lined up before the event doors even opened to get a coveted ticket for his book signing, The 83- year old was signing just 150 books and there were numerous rules surrounding who and how that would happen. Even more people were lined up all day just to hear the man talk with young and old fans who were dressed in their swag and buzzing like they were about to meet Elvis.

It was both exciting to witness how enthusiastic people were to see one of their childhood favorites and a little weird to think people would devote their entire day to seeing a kid’s author on stage.

I will stick with being glad that there is a dedicated event to celebrating books and authors in the state of West Virginia and being envious that we don’t have something of such high caliber closer to hone. I returned home feeling enthused and invigorated. I had, after all, spent the day among bibliophiles and it was lovely.

Friends, go find some people with whom you can simply be yourself while you do the things you enjoy. It’s worth it! I promise!