The 33rd edition of the Annual Book Fair 2011 was held in Sherbrooke on October 13-16, at the Sherbrooke Exhibition Center. The theme this year was “The Desire to Write''. Compared to the number of visitors that had attended the event in 2010, the 2011 event definitely saw an increase in numbers. The 13,218 visitors included entire classes of students, families and children, seniors, many readers who had come to discover their desired volumes of books. This year, the honorary authors were included Ginette Bureau - “Honorary Godmother of the event” with the traditional “autobiographical” (Du Cram); Jean-Pierre Patry - “Honorary Godfather of the event” and his latest book of poetry ''Amimots''; Annie Groovie - Honorary Author for Thursday with “Délirons avec Léon (The Short Ladder); Dominique Demers – Honorary Author for Friday, with “Là où la mer commence” (Québec Amérique); Marie Laberge – Honorary Author for Saturday with ''Revenir de loin'' (Boreal) and finally Marc Fisher – Honorary Author for Sunday with his book “Toi et moi-petit traité de la folie à deux” (Québec Amérique).

Exhibiting at this Book Fair is quite an experience, every moment, live with the public, where the book takes the place of royalty on the shelves which are well-organized, as to its title and content. Each volume must be demonstrated, in an exemplary manner, encouraging the wondering eye of the reader to stop and take a closer look... It is quite an art to organize an exhibition which will represent perfectly and harmoniously the distributor or the publisher. Generally, everything falls into place, with a team of employees who know where to put ‘the finishing touches of paint’ that will complement the display. Above all, we must not forget the presentation tables prepared for the book signing of the author (s) and their respective books. From the time that the first visitors and the first classes of students arrive, accompanied by their teacher, everything is congested and spinning in the exposition, according to individual desires and temptations. You grab a particular book that you absolutely want, without paying too much attention to the cost ... a wave of madness, generous and refreshing breath on the stand, which fills and empties according to the moods of the visitors.

Being in the shoes of an author who sits at his table and waits for the first fans to autograph each book sold is to recognize his courage and boldness in the face of the horde of fans surrounding his already mounting concern....To win is to bring in the reader, thirsty for more and bring him into his own territory which is that of the unknown, mystery and indescribable creative search for identity ... Success is at the end of this extraordinary and irreplaceable quest. I put myself in the shoes of the writer and I realized that generosity and selflessness was also a part of the kit of any writer .... The Salon du livre de Sherbrooke has revealed many moments of great emotion ....

Even Mayor Bernard Sevigny (Sherbrooke) took the time, with his family, to enjoy these moments of ecstasy and contentment in the face of attractions and challenges of literature: “the Book Fair is the meeting place between the public and inspiring authors who have created the desire and momentum to plunge us into the literary world”. Ghislaine Thibault, Executive Director of the Book Fair felt that… ''our success is not calculated by the patronage as much as the excitement of the visitors and exhibitors.'' She also expressed her thanks to SODEC, the City of Sherbrooke, Canadian Heritage and the Arts Council of Canada, four of the major sponsors of the event.

The date for the next Book Fair has been set for Thursday to Sunday, October 11-14, 2012, at the Exhibition Center of Sherbrooke.

Information at 819-563-0744 or www.salondulivredelestrie.com

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Photo 1: A well-presented display ...

Photo 2: ''The Desire to write''...

Photo 3: Being in the shoes of an author ....

Photo 4: Books create a fascinating world for children

Photo 5: A Tribute to Comics

                Photos: Myriam Sainson