Patch Tech Columnist to Present Program at Book Festival

Popular Lorton Patch columnist Jean Riescher Westcott, who has co-authored two books with her husband Sean Westcott, will take part in the 18th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book this week in Charlottesville.

The two tech authors will present a program at the event, which takes place Wednesday through Sunday and will be held in venues throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Last year's festival saw more than 200,000 attendees.

The husband-and-wife writing team are the authors of two books: "Digitally Daunted: The Consumer’s Guide to Taking Control of the Technology in Your Life" and "The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Electronics 101." The two also author two blogs: DigitallyDaunted.com which focuses on everyday tech and BasementHackers.com which is focused on hands-on DIY electronics and programming.

They will present a program called “Innovation and the Internet of Things” along with Scott T. McDonald of Fairfax, on Friday at noon.

Sean works at the Fairfax corporate headquarters of MBP, Inc, a construction engineering firm as a network administrator. Jean is a book marketing manager at International Publishers Marketing, a distributor of international publishers based in Dulles. They live in Montclair (Prince William County) with their two teenage children.

Writing about what they enjoy has made the collaboration work in a busy household, they said. “Our entire family enjoys following trends in technology and the science behind it.” Whether that means gaming together or discussing current events and scientific discoveries at the dinner table, they are a family that is brought closer in their shared passions.

Hundreds of authors, illustrators, storytellers, and other publishing professionals are participating in the festival, including Jeffrey Deaver, Lee Smith, Edward Ayers, Kwame Alexander, Nikki Giovanni, Sharyn McCrumb, Jill McCorkle and Nick Galifianakis.

Full details on the entire five-day festival are available at vabook.org