RobinsonFest 2024 has come and gone, and I’m left here basking in the glow of what was one of the most fun-filled, laughter-packed, and memorable weekends in recent years. If you were there, you know exactly what I mean. If you weren’t, well, it’s time to start planning for next year—because this past Fest in St. Augustine, Florida was the stuff of legend!
Thursday: Kicking Off the Fun
We kicked things off with our classic meet-and-greet at the Homewood Suites. The energy in the room was electric and it had nothing to do with me. We were old friends reuniting and newcomers diving in like seasoned Fest veterans. Imagine walking into a room of people you’ve never met and being welcomed like you’re long-lost BFFs with forty people. That’s the kind of welcome people get at these gatherings, and it blows me away every year. Before long, we were swapping stories, giving hugs, and laughing like we’d known each other forever. The night continued at Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill, where the outdoor courtyard buzzed with conversations (which had the occasional battle against St. Augustine’s surprisingly loud and determined cicadas). Special shoutout to raffle winner Julie Carter, who joined us for dinner and brought an extra dose of cheer to the evening.
Friday: I See Dead People…and Pirates!
Friday morning saw us on a trolley tour that provided just the right mix of historical tidbits and context for what was to come: the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. There, we marveled at centuries-old stonework and found the secret room where a former commander had chained his wife and her lover to the wall before sealing them in—fun! Lunch at Meehan’s Irish Pub was a hit (their fish and chips is divine), especially with Heather Beth Eisenberg (that meal’s raffle winner) seated beside me.
The afternoon was a leisurely stroll through downtown, which turned into a dramatic, patience-testing wait to board the Black Raven pirate ship. Once on the vessel, though, the frustrations melted away as we were regaled with seafaring tales, yo-ho-ho-ing aplenty, and enough “Arrrghs” to last a lifetime. It was during this voyage, as I stood on the uppermost deck, looking over a ship full of friends laughing and having fun, that I was struck by a feeling of having accomplished something undeniably good.
Sure, I write novels that people love, but we all generally experience the stories separately. Coming together with a common love of characters and stories, in an atmosphere that allows us to stay casual is a unique experience. I don’t normally feel pride about my novels, but I do about RobinsonFest.
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