The fun thing about a book festival is the crowd it draws--book lovers, of course. So on this crisp October day, two floors at MCTC were crowded with readers, writers, publishers, librarians, booksellers and book critics, threading through tables packed with books and magazines and literary journals, popping into rooms for readings and panel discussions.

The top floor of the festival was for the kids. Authors Phyllis Root, John Coy, Lynne Jonell, and others read to the kids, who were also entertained with music and bugs. Yes, bugs.

Back downstairs, Jaimy Gordon signed copies of "The Lord of Misrule," her National Book Award winning novel. "I might have read too long," she said. "There wasn't time for questions."

The writers and artists on the panel "This Must Be the Place" talked about the importance and significance of sense of place, and how they represent Minnesota in their work.