Slideshow: Inaugural book festival gets off the ground

Peggy Shumaker, Ann Chandonnet and Derick Burleson participate in a panel discussion at the Wood Center.
Sherry Simpson reads from her work in a book festival session at a local coffeehouse.
Cookbook author Ann Chandonnet demonstrates a recipe from her book, Gold Rush Grub From Turpentine Stew to Hoochinoo, in the teaching kitchens at the Hutchison Institute of Technology.
Dave Monson reads from Granite, a book he co-wrote with his late wife, Susan Butcher.
Terrence Cole discusses his book with participants at a book-signing event at the Wood Center.
A number of Alaska book publishers participated in the festival, including Robert Mandel of the UA Press.
Dermot Cole chats with Debbie Miller at a reception in the Rasmuson Library. Each of these authors participated in multiple sessions at the book festival.
From left to right John Taliaferro, Seth Kantner, Natalie Forshaw and Sherry Simpson engage in a discussion during a reception at the Rasmuson Library.
Peggy Shumaker, Ann Chandonnet and Derick Burleson participate in a panel discussion at the Wood Center.
Sherry Simpson reads from her work in a book festival session at a local coffeehouse.
Cookbook author Ann Chandonnet demonstrates a recipe from her book, Gold Rush Grub From Turpentine Stew to Hoochinoo, in the teaching kitchens at the Hutchison Institute of Technology.
Dave Monson reads from Granite, a book he co-wrote with his late wife, Susan Butcher.
Terrence Cole discusses his book with participants at a book-signing event at the Wood Center.
A number of Alaska book publishers participated in the festival, including Robert Mandel of the UA Press.
Dermot Cole chats with Debbie Miller at a reception in the Rasmuson Library. Each of these authors participated in multiple sessions at the book festival.
From left to right John Taliaferro, Seth Kantner, Natalie Forshaw and Sherry Simpson engage in a discussion during a reception at the Rasmuson Library.