First the facts:

Best Southwest Bookfest on March 27-29 at the Cedar Hill Recreation Center.

Why you should go: You'll hear authors discuss their books -- and how you can be an author. There will be info on area libraries (the sponsors of the event) and booths for Barnes & Noble and Half Price Books.

A new reason to go: You can buy a raffle ticket for a gift basket. Get one chance at a gift basket for $1; six chances for $5.

We have something for everyone's taste. Basket themes are the escape package, which includes a room for two at the Anatole in Dallas (yes, when we get away in the Best Southwest, we sometimes travel north of the Trinity); chocolate; tea; coffee; kitchen, which includes cookbooks; and Gone with the Wind, which includes a DVD of the movie. The value of each gift basket starts at approximately $60.

You can buy your raffle tickets at the Bookfest. The drawing will be at the lunch on Saturday, and you do not have to be present to win.