“…and I bought us two tickets on that Coast City bus.”

If you’re a bookish sort, and if you find yourself near Philadelphia this Saturday, be sure to swing by the Collingswood Book Festival. The good people of Collingswood, N.J., work all year to put together a terrific day that includes six blocks of author talks, writing workshops, children’s programs, and booths for local writers, booksellers, and artists—and all events are free.

I spoke at Collingswood last year and had a great time. (A memorable time, too: I had to follow sports legend Pat Croce and compete with an Elvis impersonator down the block.) This year, keep an eye out for Steven Hart, a friend of this blog and, more importantly, the author of The Last Three Miles: Politics, Murder, and the Construction of America’s First Superhighway. Steven has written a fine book, but don’t take my word for it; check out the effusive praise it’s recieved. When you buy the book at the festival, ask Steven for the “Quid Plura?” discount. He’ll give you a confused look, but don’t be fooled; that’s how New Jersey authors always look…