WRITE IT OFF

PACK UP YOUR BOOKS AND BE ON YOUR WAY!

And don't let the screen door hit you on the behind, sugar. Now y'all know kids, Miss Vero is heartbroken to hear the news that the Vero Beach Book Festival will not be happening this year. We just love to see some of our favorite authors in person, especially that cutey-pie serial killer creator, Mr. Tim Dorsey!
http://timdorsey.com/home.html

But, yes hunnies, we're afraid it's true:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/24/30gtbook-festival-postponed-until-at-least-until/

What a paltry piece of information this article has given us and even sadder is the fact that not one comment was posted to it. Miss Vero has sent an email to the writer to request a follow up. HA! We will not be surprised to be ignored.

Last time we checked the Book Festival website, they had at least 50 named volunteers and many authors already committed for 2008.
http://vbbf.orbitsys.net/about_committee.aspx

In fact Miss Vero ran across the the blog of Key West author, Mr. Michael Haskins, who talks about being offered some compensation from other festivals, but would have to bunk it with a buddy in Vero. Don't worry about that any more Mr. Haskins. Miss Vero sure hopes that we are not the one breakin the news to y'all.
http://chasinthewind.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-signing-tour-troubles-thanks-to.html

NO BANKIE, NO BOOKIES?

Miss Vero, as always, notices the little things like the big sponsor of the Book Festival being the Indian River National Bank, which is now The Royal Bank of Canada or somethin. They call themselves RBC and nowhere on their local website do they mention Canada, but here it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Bank_of_Canada

Now as y'all may recall Miss Vero certainly has nothin against Canada, as we ourselves, threaten to retreat there often!
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/02/24/75-threatening-to-move-to-canada/

However, Mr. Andy Biendorf, former Prez of IRNB, has certainly got his hands full with that PR mess, what with customers scurryin off left and right and some key staff too. Miss Vero noticed the lovely Miss Alice Gaskill has defected to Riverside National, a bank that Miss Vero has never particularly liked, but may reconsider now that Miss Gaskill is in. (Miss Vero remembers many of the officers at the IRNB, but they will certainly not remember Miss Vero).
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/22/riverside-bank-names-gaskill-development-post/

SO WHAT IS THE STORY?

What do y'all think kids? Did the big money sponsor drop out and now we're all made to suffer? Why is it that Vero Beach cannot get their collective rear ends in gear on these matters? The Book Festival was one event that had the ability to unite everyone- beachies and service class alike, is that why it's failin? It sure did pump some life into downtown. For a minute there Vero Beach was gaining a respectable reputation in the literary world. Even as recent as last Thursday, the Book Festival was still listed on the American Booksellers website:
http://news.bookweb.org/mediaguide/672.html

And why, oh why, is Miss Vero even botherin to ask these silly questions, when we could be doin what we do best - mixin up a martini and forgettin the whole damn thang. We must! If-in we think too much our fool head would explode, so excuse me y'all while I go find some olives.

MWAH!

missvero@live.com