First Author’s Festival in Lavonia a Success Say Organizers

The first annual Author’s Festival will likely become an annual affair after this weekend’s successful event.

Rain Saturday did not stop the more than 25 local authors from gathering inside the Lavonia train depot to meet the public and promote their books. 

Most of the authors who participated said they appreciated the  festival and said they would come back again.

Chris Maxwell is the Director of Spiritual Life at Emmanuel College and the author of several books, including one entitled, “Changing My Mind,” that chronicles his struggle with a devastating brain injury.

Maxwell said the author’s festival gave him a chance to meet new people and promote his books in a way he hasn’t before.

“This is great,” Maxwell said. “I love it because I get to meet new people and tell them about my books. I pastored a church in Orlando (FL) for 20 years, but I’m from Georgia. So it’s good to be back home and meet new people and reconnect with people I know. An opportunity like this where people come to the book fair, it’s a lot of fun.”

In addition to inspirational books, visitors were able to browse other genre’s such as mystery novels, children’s books and historical biographies while sipping homemade lemonade.

Organized and sponsored by the Lavonia Downtown Development Authority and the Friends of the Lavonia Library, DDA director Marie Morse said even though the rain cancelled plans to hold the festival at the Gazebo downtown, forcing the Author’s Fest into the train depot turned out to a blessing in disguise.

“I believe so. We still have our authors and our great music and our free lemonade. So, even on a rainy day, this gives people something to do,” she said.

Morse said next year’s Author’s Fest will also likely take place at the train depot and she said promises to be even bigger. She said there a number of authors who did not attend this year who plan to attend next year.