Fair season is upon us, and while I'm sad to be missing my annual excursion to the Minnesota State Fair, I'm making up for it (sort of) by perusing my favorite Minnesota State Fair references in A Fabulous Fair Alphabet by Debra Frasier and by rereading Charlotte's Web. Do you remember Uncle the big pig in the stall next to Wilbur's? And Templeton's feasting?
Another fair treat this year is Katherine Hannigan's new middle grade novel True (...Sort Of). We are introduced to Delly Pattison's penchant for inadvertantly drawing trouble in a delightful scene in the Poultry Pavilion of the county fair. A perfect read for a summer afternoon.
I sometimes wonder what would happen if two characters from different books met. I think Tugs and Delly would have quite a time together. That meeting may not take place but I am fortunate to be appearing with Katherine Hannigan this week. If you can, join us at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Barnes and Noble this Thursday, August 18, at 6pm to hear more about Tugs and Delly and the rest of the gang from The Luck of the Buttons and True (...Sort Of). (Please note, the date listed in Sunday's CR Gazette was incorrect.)
In the meantime, check out this video of Katherine Hannigan talking about her process and the characters of True (...Sort Of).