I've been a fan of Joyce Maynard's since first following her newspaper column back in the '80s. It was a column on all things domestic — a domesticity that I, a younger than average mother, was trying desperately to achieve. In many ways, Joyce Maynard helped me learn to be a mom.

Now Joyce Maynard has helped me learn the ropes of the red carpet.

Considering my attachment to Joyce Maynard's words, I was especially delighted that my first experience covering a red carpet event would be for the Starz Denver Film Festival screening of Labor Day, based on the book by Joyce Maynard. My admiration for Joyce and her book were nearly my undoing, though, for when her entrance was announced, I began to tear up and thought for sure I'd be bawling by the time she reached me mid-line.

Thankfully I recovered quickly and ended up with some decent shots of Joyce and her husband, Jim. I even managed to wish Joyce "happy birthday," as she had turned 60 just the day before.

I managed to get a few other decent photos before and after that, too. Some highlights from the Labor Day red carpet and beyond:

First to come down the red carpet were Denver Film Society supporters, as well as filmmakers and cast members of other films showing during the festival. These are just a few of the many:

Labor Day red carpet

Then came Joyce and her husband:

Joyce Maynard

Followed by Gattlin Griffith, who stars along with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin in the film directed by Jason Reitman. Before the screening of Labor Day, Griffith — just 15 years old — was awarded the prestigious Starz Denver Film Festival Rising Star award. After the screening, Gattlin and Joyce sat down for a brief Q & A session led by former Rocky Mountain News film critic Robert Denerstein.

Gattlin Griffith

Though I attended the event for business reasons — the business being this blog — I was also just a plain ol' fan, as a few of the night's photos attest. (Like my hip and comfy outfit provided by Ming Wang Knits?):

SDFF36 Labor Day red carpet

Labor Day signature

Labor Day opens in limited theaters December 25, and nationwide in January. Watch for my full review of the film coming soon. And for more info on the film screenings and events during the festival, visit Starz Denver Film Festival.