Fran Johnson, volunteer and community coordinator, and Cathy Bradberry, producer and director for ETV Radio The 15th Annual SC Book Festival, sponsored by the Humanities Council of South Carolina, was held May 13– May 15 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. It featured over 150 award–winning South Carolina authors, poets, and artists.

Randy Akers, executive director of the council said, “We are excited about this year’s festival. We have more authors, more exhibitors and presenters than previous years and are expecting a great turnout.”

The SC Book Festival began on Friday with over 500 school children as part of “Children’s Field Trip Day.” Master writing classes were offered to the public on Friday afternoon on subjects such as “Discovering the poet’s voice within,” “Writing for kids: It’s a cartoon dog eat cartoon dog world,” and “Social media success.” The day ended with the Opening Night Reception for the SC Book Festival held at the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library at the University of South Carolina Thomas Cooper Library.

Lynn Floyd Wr ight , children’s book author On Saturday and Sunday, over 100 writers participated in readings, discussions, and book signings. Saturday’s presenters included Patricia Moore– Pastides, Greek Revival : Cooking for Life. Also featured was the SC Academy of Authors, a group founded in 1986 to identify and recognize the state’s distinguished writers, living and deceased and support and promote the work of emerging South Carolina writers. The SC Academy of Authors held a panel dis- cussion Saturday afternoon on the life and works of Gamel Woolsey, the Academy’s Inductee for 2011.

This year’s SC Book Festival also introduced a new program for children sponsored by Books– A– Million called the Children’s Pavilion. Located on the second floor of the Convention Center, the Children’s Pavilion featured The Columbia Children’s Theatre’s performance of Pinocchio, a magician, John Tudor, and storytelling by Kimberly Roberts, author of Jammin’ Geography Caribbean Cruise. The exhibit hall featured over 100 vendors representing local, regional and national booksellers, publishers, writers’ collectives, individual writers and other non– profit organizations.

Ken May, executive director of S.C. Arts Commission, and Randy Akers, executive director of the Humanities Council of South Carolina Among those in the exhibit hall were Arcadia Publishing, University of South Carolina Press, South Carolina Arts Commission, Columbia Writers Alliance, Dr. Books/ Five Points Bookshop, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Lighthouse Books, Middleway Press, and One Book, One Columbia. South Carolina authors included Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration; Linda Grabeman, No Prissy Shoes; G. Scott Middleton, Parent Talk; Warner Montgomery, Forest Acres; and Daniel M. Smith, African– Americans and Charleston. On Sunday May 15, an afternoon presentation was made by special guest Steve Roberts who has co–authored a book with his wife, Cokie Roberts, political commentator for ABC News, entitled Our Haggadah: Uniting Traditions for Interfaith Famil ies. On Sunday, Steve Roberts shared the meaning that he and his wife found in creating their own Passover Sedar tradition called a Haggadah which blended the traditions of his Jewish ancestry and faith and practice of her Catholic heritage. “Choosing to honor both of their faiths and traditions, they began hosting a Passover Sedar that has evolved from a small family gathering to a veritable event with loved ones from all walks of life. Cokie and Steve share their special approach to the holiday and the lessons they’ve learned over the years as an interfaith couple.” ( quoted from Our Haggadah by Cokie and Steve Roberts.)

Dave and Marty Sennema, co–authors Jonathan Green, artist; Rebecca Bull, presenter; and Sara June Goldstein, S.C. Arts Commission Daniel M. Smith Jr., a physics professor at South Carolina State University, wrote African– Americans and Charleston: Histories Inter twined, which includes untold stories of generations of African- Americans whose presence deeply affected the social, cultural, and political development of the city of Charleston. He addresses the caste system based on skin color arise, churches defined by the social class of their members, and the wide disparity in education and income within the African– American community.

Daniel Smith, author Arcadia Publishers presented several local authors. Warner Montgomery’s recent historical account of the town of Forest Acres and David and Marty Sennema’s published work, Columbia, South Carolina: A Postcard History were also featured in the exhibit hall. Montgomery’s Forest Acres is a part of the “ Images of America” series. The book begins “Forest Acres was incorporated as a city in 1935 due to the efforts of Sen. James H. Hammond who had created the ‘town’ of Quinine Hill, and John Hughes Cooper, who had developed the Forest Lake subdivision. The city grew from a community of a few hundred hardworking people living in two square miles to an upscale community of over 10,000 in three times the area.” Montgomery provides a historical account of the development of the Forest Acres community and includes his own photographs of historical buildings, sites, and plaques. Included are the sites of the Taylor’s Old Mill, the Taylor– Dal loz– Plumer house built before the Civil War, Gills Creek, and Bethel Methodist Church, the first church built in Forest Acres.

Mandy Lender, author David and Marty Sennema participated in the exhibit hall to promote their book Columbia, South Carolina: A Postcard History published in 1997 by Arcadia Publishing in the series “Postcard History Series.” This book postcards illustrating the city of Columbia, 1900 to 1950. Rare images of street scenes, buildings, hotels, and homes are included in a glimpse into the history of Columbia through postcard pictures.