Texas indies celebrate Independent Bookstore Day, Sat., April 30
“Last year’s inaugural national Independent Bookstore Day, which coincided with Free Comic Book Day on May 2, was a huge success,” reported Publishers Weekly following the American Booksellers Association’s January announcement that the promotion would return in spring 2016. The (slightly earlier) April 30 date for this year’s event was chosen following concerns about competing with Mother’s Day, which falls on May 8 this year.
In Texas, numerous bookstores are participating in the program, including several who shared their plans with Lone Star Literary Life:
Hill Country Books
Hill Country Books, 358 Skyland Drive, Boerne, will be offering a 20% discount on all Internet orders on April 30 to its customers. The store features Texana, signed, and collectible books. Discount is sent by newsletter, Facebook posting, and on their web page; visit www.hillcountrybooks.com to retrieve and use the discount code.
Katy Budget Books
Katy Budget Books, 2450 Fry Road, Houston, will hold their First Annual Spring Market for Independent Bookstore Day, all day, in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day.
Their parking lot will be closed for the day for local crafters to sell alongside distributors for Scentsy, Mary Kay, Melaleuca, and similar companies. The Cheezy Rider food truck will be onsite to provide a convenient lunch option.
Like last year, the bookstore will have special items in-store only available through indie bookstores, created specifically for Independent Bookstore Day. They plan to reveal snea peeks at these deals, closer to the day. on their social media.
Texas Star Trading Company
Texas Star Trading Company, 174 Cypress St., Abilene, will be celebrating Independent Bookstore Weekend on Friday and Saturday (April 29–30) with several book signings and other in-store promotions. All books will be discounted throughout the store on both days.
- Glen Sample Ely of Fort Worth, author of The Texas Frontier and the Butterfield Overland Mail, 1858-1861, will be featured from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday.
- Abilene author and businessman Glynn Ray will sign copies of his debut novel, The Man Who Loved North Wind, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
- Popular Christian historical romance novelist Karen Witemeyer of Abilene will sign With This Ring? and other books from 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday.
- Glenn Dromgoole, co-owner of Texas Star, will sign More Civility, Please and his other books from 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Houston Writers Guild presents three-day annual conference April 29–May 1, with authors Jamie Ford and Pamela Fagan Hutchins
The 2016 Houston Writers Guild annual conference will be held April 29–May 1, 2016 at the Marriott Houston Westchase, 2900 Briarpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77042. Registration and event times vary each day.
Friday night, April 29, the HWG Press will hold a Book Launch/Cocktail Reception. Conference attendees will be entertained by guest speaker Jay Asher. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served along with cash bar. The main event on April 30 will begin with keynote speaker Jamie Ford, followed by one-hour breakout sessions. In addition, there will be an opportunity for writers to pitch their work, in ten-minute sessions with agents and editors.
Sunday, May 1, there will be a full0day workshop presented by guest speaker Pamela Fagan Hutchins.
Sign up before April 1, 2016, to receive the Early Bird Special 3-Day Pass discount. Critiques and pitch sessions require additional charges. The Houston Marriott Westchase offers a discounted lodging rate to HWG Conference Attendees. When calling for a reservation, please reference the HWG event. Marriott, 713-978-7400.
Questions: info@houstonwritersguild.com
More information and sign-ups: www.houstonwritersguild.org
(From organization’s press release)
Dallas Book Festival,
Apr. 30, Expands With
Best-selling Novelists, Award Winners
Several nationally prominent authors — including best-selling novelists and winners of both a Pulitzer and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize — are headed to the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library for an expanded Dallas Book Festival.
Among those just announced for the free, all-day, April 30, 2016, event:
Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, which won the 2015 Dayton prize in nonfiction; Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower; Jessica Knoll, best-selling author of Luckiest Girl Alive; Historian/analyst Andrew Bacevich, who is about to release America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History; Adam Mansbach, famous for that picture book that is known in its polite form as Seriously, Just Go to Sleep; Ghostwriter to the stars David Ritz, whose books include Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, and Curtis Sittenfeld, the American Wife author who is about to release her newest book, Eligible, in April.
Local authors taking part will include Karen Blumenthal, Nancy Churnin, Tim Cowlishaw, AG Ford, Sarah Hepola, Don Tate and Merritt Tierce.
The festival itself iwas founded in 2006 as the Dallas International Book Fair and renamed in 2014. For more information contact Ronnie Jessie at: ronnie.jessie@dallascityhall.com or call 214-670-7809.
(From organization’s press release and website)
Sachse Author Con accepting author applications for May 21 event
SACSHE—Authors looking for an opportunity to promote their books are invited to apply for the upcoming Sachse Author Con event at the Sachse Public Library. The event, sponsored by the Sachse Public Library, is set for Sat., May 21, 2016, from noon to 4 p.m.
The event, which is free to the public, is designed to showcase local Texas authors. Each author will be provided an individual table to display and sell books and mingle with the reading public.
Library staff are searching for a variety of authors of fiction genres. Authors who write for children, young adult, and adults are encouraged to participate in this showcase event.
Interested authors should submit an application, along with one of their published books for review, no later than February 5, 2016. Contact Mignon Morse, Library Manager, for more information and to request an application. Authors who are selected to attend will be notified of their acceptance no later than March 1. If accepted, a $30 registration fee will be required no later than March 15 to be included in publicity. Lunch will be provided for each author.
Download the application at www.cityofsachse.com/library
Mignon Morse, Sachse Public Library, 3815 Sachse Road, Building C, Sachse, TX 75048; mmorse@cityofsachse.com, 972-530-8966.
(Information from organization’s press release)
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Texas Library Association wraps up April 22 in Houston; addresses concerns regarding conference following area flooding, posts refund policy
Amid concerns regarding severe weather, which resulted in flooding of Houston-area roadways and neighborhoods, and several weather-related crises, the Texas Library Association moved forward with its annual conference April 19–22, 2016, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Lone Star Literary Life’s Kristine Hall was one of many who delayed arrival until the second day of the conference, and we’re glad she made it safely and enjoyed interacting with authors, librarians, and publishers!
Among many highlights of the conference reported on the association’s Facebook page, Nora Galvan (left) from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, was recipient of the Texas Library Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nationally acclaimed newsman and author Al Roker was one of the few headliners who didn’t make it to Houston — but the city welcomed a powerful pinch-hitter. According to the association’s Facebook page, “HEB leader and philanthropist Scott McClelland (right) keynoted General Session II. McClelland serves as President of HEB’s Houston division. Long admired for making HEB one of the state’s most trusted and generous corporate citizens, McClelland has fostered HEB’s many initiatives supporting literacy and learning. Under his leadership, HEB has reached out to communities and addressed people at their point of need. From tackling food insecurity, health issues, and of course literacy needs, HEB has led the corporate path of good citizenship and partnerships with libraries and organizations serving the public. His message is one of can-do and the importance of community engagement. Mr. McClelland replaced Al Roker, who was unable to attend the #txla16 due to unforeseen work circumstances.”
The association also offered up on their Facebook page responses to address concerns of attendees and travelers, as of April 20. Lone Star Lit readers interested in the conference’s refund policy will want to contact the association, as advised below.
“Thanks to everyone for this very healthy and important exchange of ideas and concerns about #txla16. In response to some very specific points:
“1) Why is TLA continuing with the conference when the Houston area is in such danger?
• First matters first, TLA has cautioned anyone planning on attending the TLA conference to be cautious and exercise judgment. Our position, was, is, and will always be: Safety First! We fully expect that everyone will exercise their own judgement about travel.
• The severe downpours occurred on Sunday night — two days before the start of the conference. While severe weather has continued and there will likely remain some areas with high water, downtown and the convention center are open (see below the city’s George R. Brown Convention Center’s official statement). Most of the main thoroughfares into Houston are open, as has been reported widely this morning. Again, we expect everyone to exercise their own judgment about how, when, and if they travel.
• The TLA conference is slated to last all week — well beyond the incidents of Sunday night.
“2) What is the status of the downtown area and the convention?
The convention center, and thus the TLA Conference, are open. The city’s George R. Brown Convention Center has issued the following statement.
“Houston’s GRB is fully operational with no damage. Houston and many communities in South Central Texas experienced significant storms this week. Fortunately, Downtown Houston and our convention facility — the George R. Brown Convention — was unaffected by the storms. Services across Downtown and the Greater Houston area — from hotels and restaurants to museums and attractions — remain open and ready to welcome the Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference. Much of the water has receded and conditions are returning to normal across the city. Still, our thoughts are now with the storm victims and our neighboring residents and businesses who suffered damage. At times like these, members of the Houston community come together to support one another, just as they always have. It’s one of the characteristics that make Houston such a remarkable city. We invite visitors and meeting attendees to visit VisitHouston.com for any further updates.”
While some areas of the city continue to respond to the rain earlier this week, much of the city —including the downtown areas — are open and functional. City and county offices have reopened today.
“3) What is the conference refund policy?
If any ticketed events are canceled by TLA, then registered attendees for those events are eligible for refunds for those events. Registration refunds are not issued if the conference has opened and programs are being conducted. Any individual who determines that s/he cannot attend conference due to unforeseen and unadaptable circumstances can contact the TLA office after conference for potential options. In general, the TLA policy is stated on the registration form: refund requests must be in writing and postmarked no later than April 8, 2016, less a $40 processing fee.”
(Information from organization’s Facebook page was used in this report.)
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