Exeter LitFest puts reading and writers in spotlight

EXETER — Who (figuratively speaking) killed Dan Chartrand, owner of Drinking water Road Bookstore?

Turns out it was Lara Bricker, a community creator Chartrand was about to “expose for plagiarism.”

It was all for enjoyable.

Chartrand and Bricker had been participating in Dying by Chocolate, a downtown murder thriller and chocolate crawl. The fundraising event was held Friday to kick off Exeter LitFest, a celebration of books.

Members in the roving event acquired to pay a visit to the town’s three chocolatiers — Enna Chocolate, La Cascade du Chocolat and The Chocolatier — in which they sought clues and chocolate samples, ahead of ending up at the Exeter Inn for additional enjoyable and the unmasking of the “killer.”

“I killed him since he was about to expose me,” Bricker stated, describing her actions in the video game. “I had stolen a story from a person, and he regarded that, being a person of my beta visitors. I had to do it.”

Community authors, Exeter eating places and outlets and people today who love to study collected in city more than the weekend for the celebration.

Nearby restaurants experienced literary themed specials. Ambrose had the Lord of the Mai Tais, Cornicello experienced a Dante’s Divine Comedy themed menu, and Vino e Vivo experienced Edgar Allen Po’ Boy and Ravenna wine.

Exeter and bordering cities have a myriad of authors. Lots of, like J.D. Barker, Brendan Dubois, Kathy Bailey, Michael Cameron Ward and Joe Rate spoke or ended up on hand with copies of their books. It was a ebook lover’s dream.

“I like that a city like Exeter has an function like LitFest,” reported author Joe Rate. “Exeter, so rich in history and society, is the best place for an celebration like this, and I find it enormously humbling to be provided.”

Authors collaborate

Barker and Dubois have both composed a lot of novels but also have worked as co-authors with famed writer James Patterson. They talked about their personalized composing procedures and about what it was like doing the job with the prolific Patterson.

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Both equally authors said they cherished functioning with Patterson, finding out a lot from him. Continue to they say there is something unique about publishing their possess get the job done, far too.

“I was contacted by James Patterson who reported he loved my novels,” explained Dubois. “He questioned if I would be interested in doing the job with him. He said he would give me a week or two to imagine about it. I explained, no, I’m very good to say certainly now.”

Dubois has worked on many collaborations with Patterson, with their most up-to-date, “Blowback” established to be unveiled in September.

Barker and Dubois said Patterson marketed him on the outline approach of crafting.

“He offers a whole lot of comments,” explained Barker. “He’s pretty much often proper. I seriously enjoyed operating with him.”

The appreciate of looking at endures

Stefanie Schmidt, supervisor of Waterstreet Bookstore, mentioned examining continues to be well-known, even in present day rapidly-paced, electronic planet. There has been an raise in studying through the coronavirus pandemic, she explained.

“We’ve located that so quite a few people have picked up looking through through the pandemic as a pastime and a way to connect with the planet without leaving home,” she said. “Young families, retired people, millennials and Gen Z. We are observing it all. It’s been genuinely superb, and the LitFest is a excellent to rejoice that, so we’re content to be bringing it again to Exeter this yr. Tales are crucial.”

Chartrand explained all people reads a little something it’s how they study that differs. He explained when the pandemic commenced and every thing shut down, they had been identified to preserve bringing guides to their buyers.

“We put in a few steps to keep having our guides out to men and women who preferred them,” he explained. “We begun giving cost-free transport inside the continental U.S. We provided curbside pickup, and then we began supplying a delivery provider in regions like from Durham to Kingston, to Hampton Falls and Kittery, and the regions in between. The strategies we place in place were being so well known we are however executing it.”

This posting originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: LitFest in Exeter NH celebrates books and authors