Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Erin Hill
(408) 821-2967, erin@bookgroupexpo.com
PDF version of this press release

San Jose's Book Group Expo Another Bestseller

The book-lovers extravaganza featured more than 75 authors including Andre Dubus III, Terry McMillan and Julia Glass.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) November 11, 2008 -- The book group expo, which happened last week in San Jose, CA, proved to be another best-seller. The 3rd annual event was held October 25th and 26th at the McEnery Convention Center and attracted more than a thousand attendees from California to New York, with more than 75 participating authors and 22 Literary Salons. Readers, authors and book group members were treated to two intensive days of thought provoking books, great conversations and some delicious wine and chocolate.

"The incredible turnout for this event just goes to show that readers and book groups are an increasingly powerful force in the literary world," said Ann Kent, founder of book group expo. "Each year the expo grows exponentially. The support of avid readers and book group members from all over the country has been absolutely amazing. Chicago, San Diego, Tucson, New York -- it's just incredible!"

The weekend opened with Andre Dubus III ('The House of Sand and Fog,' 'The Garden of Last Days'), delighting the packed salon with his ideas around one person's morality as another person's evil ('Write or Wrong: The Unreliable Narrator Defines Virtue'). Gail Tsukiyama ('Woman of the Silk,' 'Street of a Thousand Blossoms') and C.W. Gortner ('The Last Queen') joined the conversation of 'Historical Friction' and Brian Copeland ('Not a Genuine Black Man') treated booklovers to a sample of his one man show of the same name.

Sunday morning's rousing opening salon had attendees on their feet with a gospel quartet followed by Garth Stein ('The Art of Racing in the Rain') and Van Jones ('The Green Collar Economy') discussing their thoughts around inspiration and personal responsibility. As one attendee shared, "This is a book lover's feast of ideas and conversations." The Reduced Shakespeare Company performance by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor showed attendees the many ways that Shakespeare really can be played. As two very excited book group members who traveled from Chicago said, "We planned our vacation around book group expo -- this is amazing!"

Also headlining book group expo, were: Julie Klam ('Please Excuse My Daughter'), Annie Barrows ('The Guernsey Literary' and 'Potato Peel Society'), Marisa de los Santos ('Belong to Me,' 'Love Walked In'), Brunonia Barry ('The Lace Reader'), Julia Glass ('Three Junes,' 'I See you Everywhere'), Selden Edwards ('The Little Book'), Joshua Henkin ('Matrimony') and Will Durst ('The All-American Sport of Bi-Partisan Bashing').

The two-day experience was more than author-driven Literary Salons and book signings. Through interactive events, book groups exchanged strategies. Via informal networking, avid readers were able to make recommendations to each other. On-site independent booksellers included Books Inc. and All Ears Audiobooks. And in the festival Marketplace -- another returning favorite from last year's expo --- the wine was flowing and the chocolate was always available. Living Green Marketplace, Luv's Brownies, Kushlani Hall Jewelry, Mackerilla Design, Jeanne's Fudge, MFinity Wines and dozens more shared their wares - and their tastes - with authors and attendees alike. "In short, because passionate readers are also passionate about life, we've made book group expo a multi-layered, multi-sensory experience," says Kent.

As first-time attending author Deborah Copaken Kogan ('Shutterbabe' 'Between Here and April') said, "It felt like heaven to be there, amidst readers who actually read and talk about books and are passionate about ideas." And the readers were equally appreciative of the authors.

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About book group expo:

book group expo - the literary extravaganza that's part salon, part marketplace and part marvelous party - was conceived in 2006 by Ann Kent as a result of her passion for books, and her book group. She launched book group expo with the intention of bringing readers and writers together in an exciting yet intimate way. book group expo brings readers and writers together in the modern day equivalent of the century-old literary salon. And since our book clubs and reading groups are about so much more than just books, so is book group expo. Ann's small professional staff and committed group of volunteers are equally dedicated to making a mark in the literary map and creating an event that truly delivers "serious readers having serious fun." To learn more, log onto www.bookgroupexpo.com.