St. Martins Booktown

Memories of Book Fair 2007

Left:  Jackie Bartlett explains what a Booktown is during Book Fair.

Above Left:  filling balloon

Above Right: Watching them float away

Right:  Happy claimant with his balloon and chosen book

Far Right, top and bottom:  Balloons released in various locations throughout St. Martins Village.

 

The Booktown Initiative was very pleased to attract high-caliber authors to share their latest works with our patrons at Public Readings and Booksignings.  Appearing at the Book Fair were:(starting at left, and counterclockwise) 

Richard Provencher , author of  C0ming through the Mist pictured with Jane Parsons and Jackie Bartlett of the Booktown Initiative

Heidi Jardine-Stoddart—Reading from Return to the Sea       

Faye Marks, speaking on “The Impact of Booktown on the St. Martins Old-Timers.”

Robert Raynor reading from Just for Kicks, of the New Brunswick Valley School Series        

Sara O’Leary reading from When You Were Small.

Authors, Readings and special speakers

Not wanting to pollute the environment with latex  balloons hazardous to our priceless Marine Life, the Booktown Initiative took on the task of creating eco-friendly balloons with specially coated non-toxic tissue paper.  After weeks of testing, we had a stockpile of pillow-shaped balloons, a helium tank, and willing volunteers.  Some of the balloons didn’t fly much further than they could have been thrown… but some flew up, up and away!  The furthest a-field a balloon recovered was over 3km from the launch site.   Each balloon contained a coupon for a book of your choice from our Book Fair.  One of our balloons was observed landing on the Bay of Fundy, where it promptly disintegrated, just as planned.  Unfortunately no Northern Right Whales were available for a photo-op with the whale-safe balloons.

Balloon Launch! 

Our Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Prize was won by Megan, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.  Megan was visiting St. Martins during the Book Fair.  Megan said she was “Right Chuffed!” to win the much coveted prize.

Cats!

Just to give us credibility, the neighbouring cats on either side of Osborne Hall, where our Book Fair was held, made regular appearances.  Everyone knows that a classic used-b00kstore must have a cat. 

Lucky McGouey and Duncan Smith came to our rescue.

Old Home Week Parade

Our Float was a construction made using an antique bath-tub and a makeshift sail.  We intended the effect to bring to mind St. Martins’ Shipbuilding past, and be reminiscent of our Booktown Initiative Logo.  Caitlyn, age 13 volunteered to be the cheerful representative of the Booktown Initiative in the parade, she traveled the length of the Village, blowing clouds of bubbles as she went.