Litquake rocked. It’s hard to tell when you’re on the ground floor of the operation, making sure everyone arrives on time, the chip bowls are filled and the sound system turned on. But about three hours in, which my feet aching from trotting between authors, volunteers and staff, I did stop and say “Man, I hope this is how we all pictured it would go.”
Apparently it was. Nearly 70 Bay Area authors read at three venues throughout the day. The author party had them all in one room, including several who couldn’t read but came by to show their support. The closing party at the Edinburgh Castle, had lines snaking around the block. One of our PR mavens, who knows a lot more about these things than I do, called it one of the biggest cultural events in San Francisco this year.
Somewhere they had room for lil’ ole me. My official role was keeping track of sponsor accounts and alliances with community literary groups. But on the day of, we’re all common laborers. There were several times over the last three months that I cursed myself for getting involved in something like event planning which I clearly knew nothing about, several times I hated having to say “after Litquake” to friends, family and exciting career opportunities. But somewhere around hour 11, tired beyond the point of reason, I was wedged somewhere between Amy Tan and Rabih Alameddine in pleasent conversation. Earlier I had received an invitation to speak at a class at Stanford. My Litquake boss Jane had just told me that she was “blown away” by the work I put in. Suzan and her sister were coming by the closing party for a drink. And my whole being was lit up like a firefly with possibility.
So now I’m back. I missed my blog and writing each day. Sorry I was gone but I’d say it was probably worth it.
