This was Books by the Banks' 4th year, and I have loved watching it grow from the very first year. I noticed many improvements this time around, such as food! There has never been any kind of food offering at the convention center before, besides a piddly Starbucks booth downstairs, but this year they had a couple small options, such as a Skyline counter. That has to be a good sign, right?
There were also a few minor changes that I think made a huge difference, such as an announcement system that let them relay information about panels, instead of expecting people to rely on the paper programs.
There was also a lot less trouble with sound-- in years past, the paper-thin walls at Duke Energy Center led to problems being able to hear the panels. The rooms seemed to be split up differently this year, perhaps with that in mind.
The best-- and hands-down most awkward-- element of Books by the Banks is the author room. This sprawling ballroom stuffed with low tables can be a madhouse at times, and approaching an unknown author can be uncomfortable at first-- but I ended up spending about an hour discussing authors' books, opinions of the event... hell, stories about their children. If you're willing to walk up to a stranger and just start a conversation, you'll discover some incredible people in the Books by the Banks author room.
I walked away with way too many books, including a few supa-early Christmas presents. (That's how I roll.) I also had this year's poster signed by a very friendly John Maggard.
The turnout seemed great, despite competing with Celtic Fest and a Reds playoff game. The panels were hoppin' and the author room was humming with people. Can't wait until 2011!Books by the Banks website: http://booksbythebanks.org/
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