On Saturday, Sept. 22, Brenau University’s second annual LitFest drew local authors and book lovers to the Brenau Downtown Center.
Lainey Kennedy, Brenau assistant director of multimedia and theater services, said the event included open mic poetry, workshops, panels and hands on demonstrations for everyone attending. Children’s activities and readings were held to incorporate the younger audience as well. People dressed like literary characters and superheroes to engage with children.
LitFest was created to connect readers with authors in their community. The event was free and open to the public. Attendees experienced storytelling through songwriting and engaged with published authors by sharing their own personal experiences.
LitFest presenters included some of Brenau’s very own like Alison Reeger Cook, who focuses on writing fantasy, and Barbara Steinhaus, who has articles based on her doctoral thesis focusing on the Black Spiritual Art of Song.
“I am excited for next year’s event and the ability to possibly expand it to other universities,” Cook said. “LitFest is perfect for Brenau with its focus on humanities.”
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Megan Reddick and Brittany Brookins as Thing 1 and Thing 2 during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Tianyi “Alisa” Ma takes a photo with Captain America and the Flash during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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A superhero learns to write his name in Chinese characters during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Attendees look as some of the booths on offer during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Lillian Kennedy listens to Kelly Peters read the story that she created during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Qin “Zoe” Sun gives instructions during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Qian Yu “Crystal” Zhu and during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Qian Yu “Crysal” Zhu, Zihan “Michael” Shao and Xuan “Youlonda” Guan pose for a photo during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Katie Hart Smith presents “Writing from the Heart” during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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From left to right Tanwenqing “Ashley” He, Haiyan “Hedy” Yin, Emily Zank, associate provost, and Yongyi “Eva” Ni take part in an activity during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Barbara Steinhaus presents “Sing Me a Story” with help from other members of the Brenau University Department of Music during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Blue Cole, Jaclyn White, Keith Guernsey, Tori Bailey present “Process to Publishing” during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Barbara Steinhaus presents “Sing Me a Story” with help from other members of the Brenau University Department of Music during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Sarah Peters during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Lillain Kennedy during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Kelly Peters presents a create your own story workshop for children during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Tianyi “Alisa” Ma takes photos of Captain America and The Flash during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Captain America and The Flash during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Tianyi “Alisa” Ma takes a photo as Tianyang “Phil” Xu draws during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Captain America learns to write his name with Chinese characters during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Chen “PC” Pan high fives Captain America during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Free books during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Alison Reeger Cook during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Mel Reily works on a one sentence at a time story during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)
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Members of Brenau’s 2+2 program in Education with Anhui Normal University pose for a photo during LitFest at the Brenau University Downtown Center. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)