Twin Cities Book Festival attracts hundreds of attendees with author talks, signed books and largely the chance to connect with the overall literary community. With so many interested parties, it earned the title of largest literary gathering in this region, reported by WCCO news.

“The Fine Arts building was filled with people from corner to corner,” Talia Haibara, Creative Writing senior, said.

Over 40 individual author booths filled the room with topics ranging all across the board from cookbooks and memoirs to comics and crime novels.

The day started with the “Morning Mingle,” an event with 24 recently published Minnesota authors signing books and mixing with the crowd.

Split between the Progress and Fine Art centers that housed the sprawling event, a book fair hosted loud, boisterous conversations and stages welcomed creators of every type. The entire environment was “active and lively” according to Haibara.

The book fair saw a blend of bookstores, publishers and authors themselves peddling their wares.

“Everyone is showcasing their wares and I got caught by how unique and attractive the covers were,” Haibara said. “For example, Rock, Paper, Scissor’s lit journal is unbound and packaged like letters.”

For those hosting booths, authors in particular, the event represented the chance to connect with both readers and those who share the craft.

“It’s always beneficial to authors to meet readers– the interaction with someone who has read your book, or is about to, is the best thing about writing, in my opinion,” Kathleen Glasgow, author of “Girl in Pieces,” said. “I’ve met so many lively, interesting readers and had great conversations about the subject of the book (adolescent depression).”

For readers, meeting authors held similar benefits.

“I met a few authors, gather tons of useful information that is beneficial to my success!” editor for Metrostate University’s literary magazine Haute Dish,  Stefanie Grill said.

All around, everyone who met at the event shared something in common. Despite its size, the event houses participants and visitors with overlapping interests whether it be reading, writing, or editing.

“My favorite part I think was meeting many wonderful and like-minded people who share the same passions as I do,” Grill said.

Rain Taxi, who hosted the event, held a raffle for several different titles for a lucky reader to win. Several author booths and event supporters, like Minnesota Public Radio and CityPages, hosted booths with giveaways or interactive freebies to win coupons for local restaurants or a copy of the latest novel.

Red Balloon Bookshop, Magers & Quinn Booksellers and Midway Used and Rare Books were all among the extensive list of book sellers exhibiting. The list of publishers, writer’s groups and other related organizations run just as long.

“As a writing student what I gained by going to the event is I could learn about local organizations like Milkweed, Water-stone, the Loft, Rock, Paper, Scissors,” Haibara said. “I gained a sense of what a creative community I live in.”

With so many organizations, a wide range of topics were covered for any type of writer.

“I say that because there were many authors and publishing companies that were individualized it made the experience as if it was specialized for everyone,” Grill said.

Being so large and widespread, this unique event fills an important need for writers, readers, and resources to meet together and make connections that are fostered in the year between each of these annual get togethers.

“An event like this is so important to the literary community because there are so many opportunities and information present for newly aspired writers and senior writers.” Grill said. “It’s a great way to showcase your work and meet wonderful and creative people along the way!”

Throughout the day, books were purchased and conversations were shared, perhaps succeeding in doing just what the event strives to do: creating a connection between the many facets of the literary community and fostering the bonds that make Twin Cities the Mecca for artistic creation it’s known to be, according to Rain Taxi.