This past Friday, I took a little time away from work for a weekend getaway with my daughter and fellow author, Morgan. Our destination was Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where we planned to spend Saturday at the 2025 Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors, selling my books at table 32(a).
I’ll admit, I was nervous at first. By the time Morgan and I arrived, the entire place was drenched from a heavy downpour. Thankfully, the festival organizers had the foresight to set up 10×10 tents over each table. Even so, the morning was slow—we endured several rainy hours with very little interaction.
But then, fate stepped in. By noon, the rain cleared, the sun came out, and the grounds began to dry. That’s when everything changed. For the next five hours, we were swept up in a wave of energy as hundreds of people stopped by to meet us, hear about our stories, and purchase our books. By the end of the day, this event had become our most successful one yet.
Morgan and I also enjoyed the chance to fine-tune our elevator pitch for Dimensions District (Books 1–3) and Arcade Games (Books 1–5). With every conversation, we grew more confident and connected with more readers.
This was our second festival of the year, and we’ve already decided to attend one more before the year ends. We’ve also set a big goal: to finish Dimensions District Book 4 and Arcade Games Book 6. That should keep us busy well into the fall—and ready to share even more stories at next year’s events.
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to the Bookmarks Festival organizers and to the Winston-Salem community for braving the rain, showing up with such enthusiasm, and sharing a genuine interest in our stories. Your support means the world to us and keeps us inspired to keep writing.
By Josie Sherrill
