Who needs a roller coaster? Meet your favorite author at the California State Fair

If you prefer novels over novelty and authors over adrenaline, it still might be worth stopping by the California State Fair.

The California Authors Booth at the State Fair offers fair-goers the opportunity to connect with their favorite California writers and to pick up some new books.

“It brings some culture,” said M. L. Hamilton, an author who organized the booth. “It elevates the dialogue at the fair. And everyone here is a California author, and it brings those authors and gives them a place to display their works. A lot of their works are focused on California, so it is a great addition to the fair.”

The booth will feature many different authors throughout the duration of the fair, including New York Times and USA Today bestseller Brenda Novak. The writers vary widely in genre and background, from nonfiction to self-help to sci-fi and romance.

Frank Luna was a Northern California Emmy award-winning television news director who started writing books in his 40s. He has been coming to the fair for 10 years to promote his novel Red Storm and is working on a sequel.

Danna Wilberg, a suspense and thriller writer, said that she enjoys meeting new readers and the camaraderie between fellow writers. She was particularly nostalgic for state fairs because of the 1962 film State Fair — which she loved in her childhood.

“Coming here is like planting seeds,” said Sharon Darrow, an author and publisher. “If you are talking to people about what you do and your books, you don’t know what will come of it. They might buy an audiobook or a kindle book, or they might tell their mother, ‘Hey, I met this really unique person,’ and they might need a speaker for a group and remember you.”

The booth has been at the fair for around 15 years, according to Hamilton, originally founded by Naida West and the late Alton Pryor. They hope to bring it back next year.

This story was originally published July 20, 2022 at 5:25 AM.