Inaugural competition set for Aug. 26-27
Plans are underway to have fun all issues books in one of many nation’s most well-read cities, in keeping with organizers of the inaugural Missouri E-book Competition.
The competition, which is heralded as a “literary celebration like no different,” is ready for Aug. 26-27 with occasions primarily being held in downtown Washington. The town was acknowledged earlier this yr by the Group Literacy Basis for being a “Finest Learn Group in America” after native readers logged greater than 1.5 million pages of studying in 2020. The mixture of this achievement and the charms of downtown Washington structure made town the best location for this competition, in keeping with organizers.
“Years in the past, we participated within the Washington E-book Truthful and I used to be amazed at how strong it was, how invested the neighborhood was in literacy,” stated Josh Stevens, co-founder of Reedy Press, a St. Louis-based e-book publishing firm. Stevens and a committee of seven different folks have been planning the multi-day competition since September.
“I used to be excited for it and I nonetheless am. I’ve two younger kids, and I need to get them into studying and this concept of the place tales come to life is one thing that I believe would actually seize their creativeness,” stated Kristy Stoyer, of Washington. Stoyer is without doubt one of the native planning committee members.
“I believe that our e-book competition might be distinctive from what most others supply, as a result of it is going to be so broad-based. It isn’t only for youngsters or for adults. It’s for everyone and it has so many efficiency and interactive parts to it. You’ll be able to and really lose your self within the expertise of having fun with a e-book coming to life,” Stevens stated.
Stoyer agreed, saying that whereas the e-book competition revolves round items of literature, it’s one thing that may be loved by “non-book folks.”
The competition, which is free and open to the general public, will start with actions for public and parochial faculty college students on Friday. Later that night, a keynote presentation is deliberate at Washington Excessive College that may embody the popularity of two “well-known folks from the state.” Particulars concerning the keynote presentation and the particular honorees are anticipated to be introduced within the coming weeks. Missouri Legends writer John Brown will host the ceremony.
On Saturday, authors will give readings and take part in question-and-answer classes with readers. An entire checklist of authors and people scheduled classes might be launched at a later date, although Maryfrances Wagner, Missouri’s poet laureate, is a confirmed speaker.
Additionally taking place on Saturday, tales will come to life in downtown Washington, with many of the actions situated in-and-around Fourth and Jefferson Road, close to the Washington Public Library and Washington Metropolis Corridor. Among the many festivities deliberate there are a cooking demonstration from TV’s “Bread Monk” Father Dominic, and notable cooks from across the state displaying off culinary expertise.
“We’ll be launching his e-book, ‘Breakfast with the Bread Monk,’ that day in order that could be very thrilling,” Stevens stated. Different shows scheduled for the competition embody the Purina Unbelievable Canine Problem and a “high-flying” efficiency from the members of the Concord Circus, which options jugglers, acrobats and different performers. A wrestling exhibition will harken again to the televised wrestling matches on the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis. A automobile present can also be deliberate close to St. Francis Borgia Parish’s Jesuit Corridor.
“We’re nonetheless within the technique of confirming all the programming, however it’s thrilling what we have now up to now,” Stoyer stated. Every exercise and presentation might be tied to a e-book that’s being highlighted within the competition, she stated.
“It truly is like here’s a e-book about this topic and right here it’s in actual life so that you could expertise it firsthand,” Stoyer stated. “We actually need this to be a competition the place you possibly can come and actually immerse your self within the expertise of seeing these tales come to life.”
Extra details about the competition may be discovered on-line at missouribookfestival.com, and on social media platforms.
The announcement of the competition’s plans has generated plenty of buzz already, however Downtown Washington Inc. Government Director Tyler King stated he expects pleasure to proceed to construct because the competition nears.
Stoyer and Stevens stated they hope the competition will develop and turn into a longstanding neighborhood custom that rivals WashMo BBQ & Bluesfest or Artfair and Winefest.
“This competition has an incredible message — that studying is necessary,” Stoyer stated. “I believe that’s one thing we’re all enthusiastic about — getting books into folks’s palms, particularly kids. We’d be thrilled to see this proceed, in order that’s why we’re simply making an attempt to create a basis the place the competition can mature and develop from.”