Kid’s Zone! A popular activity is Kid’s Zone. See the Schedule page for a larger version.
Zane Grey cabin
Payson Mayor Kenny Evans presents proclamation to
Festival Director Connie Cockrell.
Story Monster – a friendly green being who “devours stories of all kinds”
Story Monster and new friend!
Mayor Kenny Evans and Jeremiah Kotz representing Congressman Paul Gosar. (Photo by DJ Craig)
Conrad Storad teaching the Young People’s Writing Workshop (Photo by DJ Craig)
Kids hugging Story Monster! (Photo by DJ Craig)
The late Bing Brown with Story Monster. (Photo provided by Linda Radke)
Buckshot Dot performing with Barbed Wire (Photo by DJ Craig)
Buckshot Dot and Marshall Trimble
Brenda Thomson, Executive Director of Arizona Humanities introducing Laura Tohe, Navajo Nation Poet Laureate for 2015-2017. (Photo by DJ Craig)
Laura Tohe, Navajo Nation Poet Laureate for 2015-2017. (Photo by DJ Craig)
Lots of authors and visitors. (Photo by DJ Craig)
Kids enjoying their new books! (Photo by DJ Craig)
Dogs like the festival too! (Photo by Randy Cockrell)
Gardiner’s Book display (Photo by Randy Cockrell)
Authors are ready to go (Photo by Randy Cockrell)
Storytime for children with Cat in the Hat
Carol Osman Brown with Story Monsster
2017 Payson Book Festival Flier page 2
Local author Annemarie Eveland chats with Madison Witt, 14, of Phoenix about the benefits of face reading. (photo Carol Osman Brown)
Emily Linkey, head librarian of the Payson Public Library, with Story Monster
Linda Westcott of Payson reads a book to her granddaughter, Petra, 4, of Phoenix. Petra met Story Monster when she was two years old and brought a gift of her drawings to him this year. (Photo Linda Radke)
Jan Cleere as she made her presentation (Amazing Girls of Arizona: Young Pioneers (Photo Bing Brown)
Cat in the Hat – storytime
Gather round” Storytime with Cat in the Hat (photo Bing Brown)
Stella Pope Duarte during her Workshop fo Young People (age 9-12) (photo Carol Osman Brown)
Marshall Trimble performing (photo Bing Brown)
Marshal Trimble signing a book (photo Carol Osman Brown)
Authors Carol Stetten and Buckshot Dot (photo Bing Brown)
Buckshot Dot performing – (photo Carol Osman Brown)
A new reader! (Photo DJ Craig)
Buckshot Dot performing
Must be a good book! (Photo DJ Craig)
Travel writer Roger Naylor reading from Boots & Burgers (photo by DJ Craig)
Closeup of award photo
Carol Brown presenting award to Emily Linkey of the Payson Library Friends
Cake for the party (photo Bing Brown)
Volunteer lunch (Photo Bing Brown)
Story Monster makes a friend! (photo Linda Radke)
Author Jan Cleere talking to visitors
Buckshot Dot performing
Cat in the Hat tells stories!
Pam Stevenson shares her book on quilting
Busy authors and visitors!
Vendor GBS books
Volunteer Bobby with donated gift baskets
Author Anne Marie Eveland answers questions
Storytime with Elaine Votruba, librarian with Gila County Library District
Story Monster makes a friend! (photo Linda Radke)
Proclamation Town Council 2019
Author & Festival Director Connie Cockrell
Bob Boze Bell & panel – True West magazine
Bobbie Bennett with gift baskets
Featured author & Official Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble
Featured author Dee “Buckshot Dot” Strickland Johnson
Hug from Story Monster
Kids Zone
Several authors at the Book Festival
Story Monster & friend
Mogollon Monster from the Town of Payson Parks, Recreation & Tourism Departmen
Photos from the 2021 Payson Book Festival: Photos by Marie Fasano. Photographer
PBF 2021 Marshall Trimble performing
PBF 2021 Marshall Trimble entertaining
PBF 2021 exhibitors’ tables
PBF 2021 OHH
PBF 2021 Children’s story time
PBF 2021 Buckshot Dot and group
PBF 2021 Children’s table
PBF 2021 shopping for books!
PBF 2021 visitors
PBF 2021 registration table
PBF 2021 Buckshot Dot
PBF 2021 books for all ages!
PBF 2021 panel discussion
PBF 2021 Big Red Dog
PBF 2021 KRIM table
PBF 2021 Children’s story time 2
PBF 2021 Book festival tote bag
PBF 2021 author Bonnie Bahn
PBF 2021 Story Monster
7th Annual Payson Book Festival
The seventh annual Payson Book Festival will showcase about 90 Arizona authors who signed and sold fiction and non-fiction books of many genres and promoted literacy at a celebration of books for readers of all ages. New this year, we also have the Rim Country Artists on site to talk about and sell their art of all kinds. Activities include: Kid Zone sessions for youngsters, author presentations, cowboy poetry and songs, and entertainment. Take a look at the 2022 Book Festival – Fact Sheet for more information.
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6th Annual Payson Book Festival a big success!
Story Monster makes a friend! (photo Linda Radke)
Last year’s family-friendly book festival was another success as a free literacy program for readers of all ages. More than 300 people came from throughout the state to meet and speak to 80+ Arizona authors and enjoy a variety of activities at the event, which took place at Mazatzal Hotel and Casino, Payson AZ.
Kids enjoyed storytime events with librarian Elaine Votruba of the Gila County Library District. Meeting Story Monster was fun for everyone. Other authors gave presentations and shared background information on their books.
Many visitors came primarily to meet authors who signed their books. This event gives access to authors in a way most people don’t usually have available.
THANK YOU to our sponsors and volunteers for their help in making this celebration of books and reading possible!
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2019 event photos: Photos by William Houdek Photographer
The late Bing Brown with Story Monster. (Photo provided by Linda Radke)