#GritLit2016: 20 things

So GritLit 2016 has come to a close, and it was an amazing weekend. Thanks to Jennifer, Jessica, and all the GritLit crew for herding us author-cats and pulling off a memorable and amazing experience. 

20 things to note from the weekend, from one newbie author:

1. Hold book low during readings to show more face.
2. Tuck shirts in.
3. Rabbit "wings" are not a repeat.
4. Pulled-rabbit pizza on puff pastry with a mushroom marinara and cilantro-oil drizzle is a life-changing repeat.
5. Paté is only good when I can't taste the liver.
6. Having a hospitality lounge for authors to grab light refreshments is a very good thing. (I can point to two meals that would've been missed otherwise.)
7. Talking to readers and other writers is a buzz.
8. Having a reader go out of her way to locate me at the festival so I could sign her copy is a humbling and privileged reality.
9. Signing books for readers is THE sh-t.
10. Nino Ricci eats a really big breakfast.
11. Nino Ricci's overnight bag is a small daypack.
12. Nino Ricci let me drive him to the GO station.
13. Nino Ricci takes the GO train.
14. Hamilton is rising. Pay attention.
15. Anakana Schofield digs meaning from industrial places.
16. GritLit is a perfect festival. Readings and chats surrounded by art. Boom.
17. John Terpstra let me drive him home in a snowstorm.
18. Local beer in the hospitality suite = classy.
19. Kerry from Bryan Prince Bookseller was there the whole time. The. Whole. Time. Kerry & the BP crew = dedication to good reading and writing.
20. Must block all of April 2017 off in my calendar for next instalment of GritLit. You should, too.