Graphic by Noemi Gonzalez.Over the last year or so, I have fallen in love with the city of Seattle. From the beautiful city skyline, to the nature surrounding it, Seattle radiates beauty, innovation and art.
Seattle is also home to one of the largest independent book festivals in the nation: the APRIL Festival. APRIL stands for "Artists, Publishers and Readers of Independent Literature." The mission statement of the event is "to connect readers with independent literature and the authors and publishers of this relevant and vitalizing work."
The book festival was inspired by an event held by the once-established Pilot bookstore, which heralded independent works. The festival invites individuals from all walks of life, from those who have been immersed in literature for a long time, and others who are just discovering the magic of the written word.
It is akin to the First Friday art walks in Downtown Phoenix, but the APRIL festival focuses the microscope on independent writers and publishers. In the past two years, one of their events incorporated the unexpected — "A Poet, A Playwright, a Novelist, and a Drag Queen." The underground feel and the unique takes on literature seem strange, and refreshing.
It celebrates those who have not "gotten a chance at the big time," and work that is oftentimes under appreciated.
I hope to one day attend the festival and take a peek into the festivities. The funniest fact about the whole thing? It is held in March.
You can read more about APRIL on their blog here, where they share stories throughout the year about independent literature.
Seattle plays host to a variety of arts, and seems to be the center of art on the west coast. This APRIL festival is a result of this cultural love for art and the written word.
Reach the blogger at arabusa@asu.edu or on Twitter @marie_eo.
