Creative Slingers of Ink will be hosting its first Fall Book Festival in Greer this Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Historic Greer Depot.
The festival features 32 authors from across the nation, though many are local to the Upstate region. Mandy Jo Squires, Founder of Creative Slingers of Ink, says that this is the group’s first event since they made their move to South Carolina from Michigan.
“I've gotten so much encouragement from the Greer Chamber, from the city [and] from individuals,” Squires said. “The number of people that are out there writing is just incredible, and we've been welcomed with open arms from a lot of different areas. It's been so encouraging and by far the best move, literally, that we’ve made.”
The festival will have tables for every author to talk about their books with passersby, as well as some book readings throughout the day. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with over 50 genres and 150 book titles represented.
Squires says that this festival features a lot of new additions for the group. This is the first time Creative Slingers will have food vendors at an event, provided by Mini Amor Cafe in Boiling Springs and Sip & Sparkle in Greenville. The event will also feature a charity aspect — a new and gently used book drive benefiting Greer Relief.
The festival happens to fall on the same day as the Greer Artisan Makers Market, something Squires hopes will bring in some more foot traffic. She encourages attendees to pop by both events and support the wide range of local makers and authors coming to downtown.
“I was very excited about it because I think those attending the Artisan Makers Market are going to be a similar demographic to those that would be attending the book festival,” Squires said. “So I think it's a good compliment for cross traffic.”
Those who attend the Fall Book Festival will also get to participate in a Passport to Reading game. Participants get a point for every author they visit while in attendance, and get an extra point for every book that they purchase.
The prize is one of three boxes of books donated by the authors in attendance. While free books are certainly a prize worth fighting for, Squires encourages attendees to slow down and take time to listen to the authors’ stories.
“I would love to see people come out and support these authors and just enjoy the day and get to know them … Some of them live right in your backyard,” Squires said.
Visit the Fall Book Festival at the Historic Greer Depot (300 Randall St Suite D) on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the Fall Book Festival, visit Creative Slingers of Ink’s website or Facebook group.
Follow Breanna Laws on X @GreerByBreanna
