Virginia Festival of the Book

This will be quick, as I'm going to rise early tomorrow for the Virginia Festival of the Book.

Charlottesville plays host each year to the biggest book festival in the Mid-Atlantic. This year's event runs from March 17-21 with dozens of author readings each day. The events are scattered around Charlottesville and UVA. Most everything is free.

You can create a "book bag" of selections and e-mail it to friends.

Here are a few in my book bag:

Business Breakfast with Michael Gelb

Wed. March 17th, 2010 - 7:30 AM

Michael Gelb, author of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, speaks on "Thinking Creatively in Tough Times." A pioneer on creative thinking, accelerated learning, and innovative leadership, he is a Batten Fellow at the UVa Darden School this spring.

The Flavor Bible: Talk and Booksigning

Wed. March 17th, 2010 - 6:00 PM

With Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, authors of The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity,Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs, which won the 2009 James Beard Book award for Best Reference and Scholarship.

Reporting from the Front Lines of Pakistan and Afghanistan

Thu. March 18th, 2010 - 4:00 PM

J. Malcolm Garcia (The Khaaijee: A Chronicle of Friendship and War in Kabul) and Nicholas Schmidle (To Live or to Perish Forever: Two Tumultuous Years in Pakistan) discuss their recent work as reporters in Afghanistan and Pakistan.