Attending a book festival is beneficial for authors, to meet with readers and network with other authors. At this first annual festival in The Dalles, it was definitely mostly talking with the authors. Next year, the organization has to do a lot more advertising to get the readers there. It being a gorgeous day didn't help either. People were enjoying the amazing fall weather, the colors vibrant, the sky the deepest blue. Why would they want to go inside, in a small room, packed with books?