“I brought 800 copies. It’s not even noon and they are all gone.” The table promoting the Santa Monica Review, a small literary magazine created in 1988 by local literary icon Jim Krusoe, was so popular it sold out before the day was even half over. The newest local literary mag – Megacity Review – was proudly offering it’s first edition, a collection of short stories and artwork edited by Genaro Trejo to much acclaim. The Culver City Book Festival did what it set out to do; get more books into the hands of more readers.
Only in it’s third year, the Culver City Book Festival has grown to be a noteworthy event, with publishers, book stores, authors and magazines all filling the garden of the Wende Museum. This year, it expanded into the Glorya Kaufman Community Center with multiple workshops. Everything from poetry to politics got some space on the stage, and the crowds were delighted.
The sunny sidewalk was packed with people carrying armloads of books, with tote bags slung over their shoulders. More than a few crossed the street to Vets Park, and found a tree to lean against while they opened a fresh volume to read.
Photo – Festival attendees add thoughts and feelings at an instant art work
