The Tucson Festival of Books took place at the University of Arizona from March 15th to March 16th, offering an exciting weekend for book lovers of all ages. This free annual book fair features family activities, food vendors, and various presenting authors.
This year, select members of Sahuaro’s book club had the exclusive opportunity to attend the festival and conduct a special interview with author Emily J. Taylor. Taylor’s latest book, The Otherwhere Post, was discussed during the interview, as the book club members who signed up had the chance to read the novel in advance to familiarize themselves with her work. The Otherwhere Post, is described on Goodreads as a, “glittering dark fantasy about a deadly mystery that spans worlds and a teenage girl who must risk everything to uncover the truth.”
After touring the venue and experiencing the excitement of the festival, the students sat down with Emily J. Taylor for their interview. It gave them the chance to connect directly with the author and ask questions they had about her work and creative process. Ava Soto, a senior who attended said, “The whole experience was very rewarding for me.” She spoke about the fact that, without being in Sahuaro’s book club, she would have never had the opportunity to be a part of this experience. Ava spoke highly of Emily J. Taylor, saying she was, “very nice and responsive to our questions… mainly, I loved getting to know her because it made me realize writers are just people too.”
Junior, Ava Landeen remarked that she “really enjoyed meeting the face behind the book”, and that “it was so cool getting to have a face-to-face interaction with her and learn about her inspiration and ideas for the book.” She says she would “absolutely do it again next year.”
This opportunity also allowed the students to reflect on the importance of engaging with literature beyond the pages of a book. By interacting directly with the author, they gained a newfound appreciation for the hard work and creativity that goes into writing. The festival not only provided a platform for young readers to expand their literary horizons but also created a lasting memory of how personal connections to authors can deepen their passion for storytelling. Ava Landeen concluded, “Sometimes I feel so far away from authors, so it was really weird, but cool to be able to talk to an author like that.”
It’s truly a privilege to have these kinds of unique opportunities at Sahuaro, where students are given the chance to engage with authors and literary events in such a meaningful way. These experiences not only enrich their understanding of literature but also inspire a deeper passion for reading and writing. The Tucson Festival of Books is an event that the Sahuaro Book Club will never miss the chance to attend.
