Celebrating Literature

Author (at left) takes questions during book launch party in a friend's kitchen.

   A friend of mine got her first book published. To celebrate the occasion, someone hosted a book launching party. It happened over the weekend inside an apartment near Boston.
   During the party, I chatted with a literary agent. She claimed that Boston and San Francisco are the most supportive cities in the nation for writers. The agent lives in New York. She said NYC has a busy literary scene, but the hugeness of the population makes it harder to foster community among writers.
   Her compliment isn't surprising. Around fifty author readings happen weekly in and around Boston. Writing workshops are commonplace. A book festival takes place each year.
   What makes Boston such a literary beehive? There's reasons too numerous to cite, so here's a simple answer: In a culturally dynamic city, literature is appreciated.