Kerrytown BookFest Draws Crowds

Imagine if you were a Kerrytown BookFest exhibitor, waking up this morning to gray skies and gentle rain – not a great feeling. But by mid-morning the rain stopped and this 6th annual fair, according to several booksellers and other exhibitors, was having one of its best years ever.

Jim Horton makes a complimentary bookmark for a customer at Sunday's Kerrytown BookFest.

“We’re doing wonderful – once it stopped raining,” quipped Maryvonne Sarfati of The Bessenberg Bindery.

The Ann Arbor business wasn’t trying to sell anything today, but they’d made a lot of good contacts, said owner Jon Buller. Their table was arrayed with a spread of buttery leatherbound books, with covers so soft and textured that passers-by couldn’t help but pet them – despite polite signs asking them not to.

Down the aisle, Heather Buchanan of Aquarius Press was exhibiting for the first time at this event, and brought with her several authors of books she publishes.

They’d had brisk sales – better than expected – but she said the exposure to the Ann Arbor community was even better for her metro Detroit business.

More than 125 booths were set up throughout the Kerrytown Farmers Market area, with a section for children’s activities and one for mini-workshops put on by the staff of Hollander’s, a Kerrytown shop that sells specialty papers, bookbinding supplies and stationary.

The event also honored local artist and teacher Barbara Brown, who received this year’s Community Book Award. The award recognizes people who support books and book arts in the community.

Writers from Aquarius Press: Cheryl Coleman-Brown, Sylvia McClain, Heather Buchanan, Karen S. Williams and Felecia Studstill.

An official T-shirt on sale at Sunday's Kerrytown BookFest.