Meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of the month
(10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

 Sycamore Hills Park Community Center
(635 West Avon Rd)
Avon, Connecticut

Connecticut Authors

and

Publishers Association

 

About the
Big E

Also known as The Eastern States Exposition, The Big E is billed as "New England's Great State Fair". The only cross-state agricultural fair in the United States, the fair serves as the de facto state fair for the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is the sixth largest agricultural fair in the country, and the largest in New England.

The Big E is held every autumn in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It is open every year for two weeks and three weekends, opening the second Friday after Labor Day and running through the third following Sunday. Each year, the fair regularly brings in more than one million fairgoers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love To Read
Connecticut Authors
Sept. 12 - 28, 2008
The Big E

          At   the  2008  Big  E  (formerly called the Eastern States Exposition) in  West  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  the  Connecticut  Authors  and  Publishers  Association  (CAPA)  will  be  operating  a  bookstore.  The  bookstore  will  contain  the  works  of  Connecticut  authors.  Genres  covered  include:  fiction,  non-fiction,  science  fiction,  mystery,  young  adult  fiction,  children’s  books,  memoirs,  biography,  crafts,  adventure,  romance,  cookbooks,  travel,  technology,  sports,  historical  novels,  and  poetry.  62  authors  will  be  featured  and  115  titles  will  be  on  display.

          Individual  authors  presented  will  be:  Connie  Albrizio-Magnan,  Eileen  Albrizio,  E.M.  Alexander,  M. J.  Allaire,  Dr.  Janet  Atwood,  Jim  Atwood,  Bonnie  Barile,  Richard  O.  Benton,  Cynthia  Bercowetz,  Shirley  L.  Bostrom,  Beth  Bruno  -  Editor,  Gina  Greenlee,  Kathleen  Dolan-Bunte,  Frances  Gilbert,  Gimpel  Lee,  Lynne  K.  Cote,  Roger  Lee  Crossland,  Patricia  D’Ascoli,  Terry  Finello,  Elizabeth  Faragher,  Peggy  Gaffney,  David  Garnes,  Doreen  Tango  Hampton,  Rosemary  Harris,  Melvin  C.  Hathorn,  Ann  Jamieson,  Evora  Jordan,  Jeremy  J.  Joyell,  Paul  (Buck)  Kalinowski,  Carol  Keeney,  Joe  Keeney  -  Publisher,  Robert  Kerson, Debbie Kilday - Illustrator, Jerry  Labriola  MD,  Janet  Lawler,  Howard  Layton,  Blanche  F.  Lord,  Linda  Machado,  June  Mandelkern,  Jan  Mann,  Stacy  Lytwyn  Maxwell,  Ursula  McCafferty,  William  Muttart,  Mollie  Wilson,  Denning  Powell,  Ben  Quesnel  -  Illustrator,  Richard  Radune,  Steven  M.  Reilly,  Patricia  Roach,  Jean  Marie  Rusin,  Tom  Santos,  Dennis  Schleicher,  Glen  Shapiro,  Patricia  Sheehy,  Carole  Shmurak,  Lorriane  Strenkowski,  Robert  Trexler  -  Publisher,  Dan  Uitti,  Elaine  Violette,  DeEarlon,  Julie  Wakely,  Jay  R.  Worsham.                        
 

Meet the Authors

          This  year’s  event  will  run  from  September 12-28,  10  am  to  9  pm  in  the  Connecticut  Building  on  the  Avenue  of  the  States.  The  motto  of  this  year’s  event  is  “Love  to  Read  Connecticut  Authors”.  Look  for  our  banner.  On  Connecticut  Day,  September  17th,  this  year  a  special  feature  will  be  a  visit  from  Connecticut’s  most  famous  author  of  all  time,  Mark  Twain.  We  invite  the  public  to  stop  by  and  browse  our  bookstore.  Select  authors  each  day  will  be  on  hand  to  autograph  their  books.  We  promise  there  will  be  a  book  to  buy  that  meets  everyone’s  taste  in  literature.     

Avenue of States

One of the most popular attractions at the Big E is the Avenue of States. The avenue contains smaller-scale replicas of the original state houses of each of the New England states, as well as the New England Grange House.

The state buildings feature exhibits and vendors which best exemplify the heritage, food, and traditions of each state. Food vendors can be found in each building selling items that are traditional to their states. For example, the Maine House offers lobster and blueberry items, while the Vermont House has Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Much like national embassies, the state houses and the land on which they sit are actually owned by the respective states. Through an arrangement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, they are administered by representatives from each state's police force during the fair. Due to this distinction, tickets for each state's individual lottery can be purchased within the houses. There is also a heavy emphasis on tourism promotion in each state house.

 

Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Connecticut and Points South

Take I-91 North from Rte. 2, I-84, I-95 or the Merritt Parkway -- Follow I-91 North to Mass. Exit 3 to Route 5 North to Rte. 147 West, Memorial Avenue approximately 3/4 mi. to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot. 

Alternate Routes from Connecticut and Points South
Take I-91 North to Conn. Exit 38 (Poquonock) to Rte. 75 North to Rte. 147 East. Continue approximately 1/2 mile to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot.

Take I-91 North to Conn. Exit 40 (Bradley Int'l. Airport) to Rte. 20 West to Rte. 75 North to Rte. 147 East. Continue approximately 1/2 mile to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot.

Take I-91 North to Conn. Exit 42 to Rte. 159 North to Rte. 147 East. Continue approximately 1/2 mile to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot.

Take I-91 North to Conn. Exit 47 West to Rte. 190 West to Rte. 159 North to Rte. 147 East. Continue approximately 1/2 mile to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot.

From Bradley International Airport
Take Rte. 75 North to Rte. 147 East. Continue approximately 1/2 mile to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot.

From Southwestern Connecticut
Take Rte. 10/202 North to Southwick, Mass., turning right onto Rte. 57 East (4.7 mi.) to center of Feeding Hills. Continue straight on Springfield Street to Rte. 147 East, about 2 1/2 mi. to ESE grounds. Continue ½ mi. to ESE's Gate 9 parking lot.