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PenPoints newsletter

Page 4

IWPA at the Chicago Tribune’s 2008

Printers Row Book Fair

By Art Brauer, PRBF Chair

Little did we know what Chicago had in store this year, for the IWPA authors...

Saturday morning, June 7, was Opening Day, at the Printers Row Book Fair, highly charged with expectations, nervous anticipation, and excitement. But this particular day had some interesting twists.

This year the Tribune assigned a new location for the IWPA tent placing our authors directly in the heart of the action! The people and flurry of activity that surrounded the tent throughout the day provided more than ample opportunity to promote the IWPA, ourselves, and our books.

Despite Chicago living up to its reputation (No, not the gangster thing; “The Windy City” thing), our spirits remained high. Blustery winds and major storms threatened throughout the day, but the rain didn’t materialize until late in the afternoon. In light of many of the authors’ successful sales and considering that only an hour remained until closing, we all voted to "call it a day" as we stood dripping in the aftermath of a five o’clock, “mini monsoon.”

Printers Row or the “Land of Oz”?

Sunday morning usually begins slowly and the morning of June 8 was no exception. We were charged and ready to go, knowing that Sunday sometimes brings a lively crowd in the early afternoon. Those of us who were participated the day before were still buzzing from our Saturday successes.

Stephanie Wilson-Coleman

shares her philosophy "Life

is too short to drink cheap

champagne" with visitors to the IWPA tent

Art and Susan Brauer chaired this year's successful event.

Marlene Cook, Cindy Cruz and Marlys Marshall Styne enjoy networking, meeting and greeting visitors.

The lively crowd did indeed appear…and so did the wind. By noon, strong gusts were blowing and propelling the author's bookmarks, flyers, and posters around and out of the tent. Large trash collection boxes were sailing down the fairway, causing the determined book fair browsers to dive for safety between the tents.

As the sky began to darken, a timely severe weather warning from the Tribune's security person gave our authors 30 minutes to "lighten their load" for a quick exit, so we were somewhat prepared for what was to come.

And approximately 25 minutes after the warning, WOW!! Authors and volunteers for the IWPA, AAUW, and Jane Addams were literally ducking and running for their lives. We found shelter in a bus stop, crouched next to book cartons, and on hands and knees hoping that the tables we were under stayed put. After 65 mph winds and driving rain, the IWPA tent collapsed and was blown about 20 feet down the street. Signs and posters became missiles, and the eight foot tables were tossed around like playing cards. Literature of all sorts and even clothing were blown to who knows where, maybe even the “Land of Oz”.

Although it seemed like several hours, the storm lasted for less than 20 minutes and overall the authors and volunteers fared reasonably well. Most importantly, everyone emerged from the wreckage healthy, with their belongings intact, and their losses minimal.

In the aftermath of chaos, the tenacity of our IWPA members echoed through the many uplifting emails sent expressing concern for others, humor, and positive anticipation of what next year may bring. To quote member Michele Weldon, in a statement indicative of the spirit of the members of IWPA, “I hope everyone is OK. Goodness. Next year, we wear helmets.”