The Festival Fedora

Everyone needs at least one good hat. Or, as I like to think of it, a personality head-wrap.

In fact, I have three hats that I consult on a daily basis. It depends on the mood and day's occupation, of course.

The first is the baseball cap.

A simple little piece of headgear, the baseball cap can be traced all of the way back to 1858 when it was invented for--you guessed it--sports uniforms. It didn't become popular for another hundred-plus years, because people were like, "why you wearing that uniform hat, Karen?"

But it isn't 1858 anymore and I'll proudly rock that baseball cap out in the wild-blue-yonder. 

You may be thinking something along the lines of: "Kristen, literally what are you talking about right now?"

Well hush. I'm getting there.

The point is, the baseball cap is my canoeing, hiking, campfire-ing hat. It keeps the sun out, keeps the hair back, and--if I'm feeling particularly rock starry--can be worn at a sassy tilt.

Next, there's the stocking cap. My go-to winter hat. It keeps my head warm. I'm not great at keeping it on my head. The end.

The end of the stocking cap, anyway, because the last hat is the sexually ambiguous cowhuman hat.

Cowhuman. That's just terrifying. But I don't wear cowboy hats. I wear cowgirl hats. And it bothers me that I have to identify with the hat I'm wearing. Ok, it doesn't bother me that much. But I was typing and I realized that it was stupid and now I've been rambling about it for ages and can't seem to find a graceful way to leave so I'll just say that WE'RE DONE HERE.

 Anyway, the cow hat is my horse-backing hat. It's pretty much the only time you'll see me in it, unless the time of the year is anything close to Halloween. That cow hat's for horses. Just let it be.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. The friggin point.

If you've read my book, you know that I like fedoras. I mean, these Martian-born women are rocking them left and right, and they own that shit. I mean, the only way you can improve on a Martian-pilot-rebel is to put her in a fedora. 

And I realized that I really, really wanted one. It would be my book signing/festival hat. Very important, that.

Better still, my editor--this is a woman of many talents, folks--was able to find the exact hat that I'd asked for. She's brilliant, the hat is brilliant, and I can't wait to see what personality it lends to the Twin Cities Book Festival. Specifically at my booth, where the hat shall be stationed for the majority of the shenanigans.

So, if you think that fedoras, Martians, books, swag, and/or me are cool, this is the event you shouldn't miss! It's this Saturday from 10-5 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. There's no cost to get in, and if I'm the one who got you there, I'll be overwhelmed by rampant joy.

Peace, 

Kristen