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SBJ.com Staff Report

The Savannah Book Festival came to a close Sunday afternoon, reporting good attendance and successful fundraising events, new additions to this year’s event.

The Festival opened Friday night, featuring the internationally renowned and bestselling thriller writer Vince Flynn who presented a keynote speech at Trinity United Methodist Church, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Dick Eckburg. The event was free, open to the public, with an almost capacity crowd.

And, despite rain and chilly weather on Saturday, all events featured a variety of national authors were well attended, according to Madison Parks “Matt” Prickett, executive & creative Director of the Festival.

Prickett is the co-founder of Systems Techniques, Inc., and is the former chair of the Candler Alumni Council of Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and is currently its representative on the Emory Alumni Board. He now resides in Savannah, devoting much his time to the Savannah Book Festival.

Flynn, author of several New York Times bestselling novels, including his latest, “Pursuit of Honor,” provided a colorful look at his method of developing the military and government sources which add authenticity to his works, including from the CIA, State Dept, and foreign governments. 

And, he talked about his close friendship with President George W. Bush, who is a prolific reader, according to Flynn, and a fan of his work. Flynn was a frequent guest at the White House during Bush’s presidency.. “He always wanted to know how I got my information,” laughed Flynn. “How did you KNOW about that?” Bush would ask, he said.

Flynn spent much of Friday with Army Rangers based at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, a number of whom were in attendance Friday night, and received a standing ovation from those in attendance. “I’ve been at a lot of military installations in my career,” said Flynn, “but have seldom experienced the kind of positive relationship and support between the military and a city, as you see in Savannah.”

Flynn’s novels feature counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp, who proves himself to be a hero unafraid “to walk the fine line between the moral high ground and violence,” according to a review by The Salt Lake Tribune, “for our country’s safety, for the sake of freedom, for the pursuit of honor.”

He talked about how he developed the character, came up with name, and talked about his strict Irish Catholic upbringing in Minneapolis, the youngest of seven children, which steeled him to be tough, and has aided his career success.

“There are hundreds of thousands of manuscripts written every year as good, or better than mine,” said Flynn. “But I broke through because of my background, the way I was raised.”  He credits his father’s very strict, tough approach in raising boys, and insistence that all of his children participate in four sports a year in school as part of what contributed to his high level of determination.  

He has had, "one publisher (Simon & Schuster), one editor and one wife," he added. "It's almost unheard of in this business." 

Flynn also appeared on Saturday morning at the Festival to talk about his life in letters and his eleven novels, several of which are a part of the beloved Mitch Rapp series.

Flynn spent much of his talk discussing how he overcame severe dyslexia, pursuing the unlikely career as a writer.

This year’s festival included two fundraising events, after coming out of last year’s festival in serious financial trouble, according to

On Saturday evening, a Eudora Tribute Concert was held at 8:00 pm, featuring Kate Campbell, Caroline Herring and Claire Holley, in collaboration, co-sponsored by Carolyn Luck and John and Stephanie Duttenhaver.

The concert was a tribute to the late Pulitzer Prize-winning Southern writer Eudora Welty. Welty’s 100th birthday would have been April 13th, 2009. The concert, which debuted at the centennial celebration for Welty earlier this year, received rave reviews despite the cancellation of Mary Chapin Carpenter at the last minute, due to the mid-Atlantic snow storm this past weekend.

On Sunday, a fundraising Brunch Talk featuring Julia Reed, was held. Reed is the author of Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena; Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns and Other Southern Specialties.  She is also the author of a collection of essays on food published in the New York Times Magazine, as well as “The House on First Street: My New Orleans Story,” a memoir.

The fundraising Sunday Brunch and talk by Ms. Reed was held in the Jepson Center for the Arts on Telfair Square, sponsored by Georgia Power. Ms. Reed was introduced by Savannah College of Art & Design President Paula Wallace.

Green Life Space provided recycling for the 2010 Festival, with recycling bins placed in and around Telfair Square for attendees.