This past weekend, I attended The BookFest online — a two‑day celebration of reading, writing, and the many ways stories shape our lives. Day 1 focused on readers, Day 2 on writers, and by the end I felt that familiar post‑conference buzz: equal parts energized and itching to get back to the page.
Day 1: Purpose, Hidden Histories, and the Power of Story
The event opened with a keynote from Abraham George, author of Mountains to Cross: Finding Life’s Purpose in Service. His talk centered on purpose — how we find it, how we live it, and how service can be a guiding force. It was a grounding way to begin a weekend devoted to creativity.
One of the speakers I was most looking forward to was Christina Baker Kline, whose work (Orphan Train and her upcoming novel The Foursome) I deeply admire. I’ve seen her speak in person before, and she’s just as compelling virtually. She shared that she’s drawn to stories “hidden in plain sight”– events or histories that may exist in nonfiction accounts but haven’t yet been explored through fiction, where they can reach a wider audience.
As someone who writes character‑driven stories with historical threads, I found her insights especially resonant. A few gems:
- Historical fiction must show how moments feel to the characters, not just what happened.
- Two story types reliably captivate readers:
- Ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances
- Extraordinary people thrust into ordinary circumstances
- Point of view matters more than we think. Finding the right character lens can transform the entire narrative.
- And perhaps my favorite: “If the subject matter scares you, that’s the story you should be writing.”
I may or may not have scribbled that one in all caps.
Day 2: Leadership, Emotion, and Building Worlds Readers Can Feel
The second day opened with keynote speaker Carla A. Harris, author of Lead to Win. She offered a wealth of leadership wisdom, but one line in particular has stayed with me: “Talent is evenly distributed but opportunity is not.” It’s a reminder of both the responsibility and the privilege of creating stories — and of lifting others as we climb.
Next, I tuned into Beth Freely’s session on research and imagination in historical fiction. She distilled something I’ve always believed but had never heard phrased so perfectly: “Research builds a world, but emotion makes your readers care about it.” She spoke about helping readers feel what it was like to live in a particular time period, and how characters must respond authentically to their circumstances for the story to resonate. It was exactly the kind of craft talk that feeds my current historical fiction project.
A Spooky Detour (Naturally)
I ended my weekend with a panel called “When Scares Are Real: Writing Spooky Nonfiction.” Given my own fascination with the eerie and unexplained — whether it’s the supernatural threads in The Debt Collectors: A Lucy Vaughn Mystery or the mysterious creature lore in Christmas in Cave Creek — I couldn’t resist.
These authors write true accounts of cemeteries, hauntings, demonic possession, and other unsettling corners of reality. Hearing them discuss research, ethics, and craft was a reminder that truth can be just as chilling, and just as narratively rich, as fiction.
Leaving Inspired (and Ready to Write)
Like all the best conferences, The BookFest left me with pages of notes, a head full of ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose. I learned so much, from craft techniques to story philosophy, and I’m excited to channel that energy into future projects.
If you’re a reader, writer, or simply someone who loves stories, I highly recommend checking out the next BookFest. As for me, I’m diving back into my manuscripts with fresh eyes and a full creative tank.