First Fort Wort BookFest set for four days and multiple venues in October
Organizers have announced the Fort Worth BookFest for Oct. 12–15, 2017, in Fort Worth. Envisioned as a cross-cultural, community-driven, multi-genre literary event, Fort Worth BookFest will “provide a platform for raising awareness of the transformative power of literacy” in Fort Worth and throughout the Southwest, according to the event’s press release.
Fort Worth BookFest is a strategic collaboration with Max Rodriguez, founder of the Harlem Book Fair and publisher of QBR/The Black Book Review. A Founder’s Day event in April 2016 kicked off the organizing and planning process.
The following events have been scheduled.
- October 12: LANGUAGE: IDENTITY: HOME Symposium in partnership with and on the campus of Texas Christian University. The symposium, which will be live-streamed on Twitter/Periscope, includes a panel discussion that deconstructs language, showing how words and everyday language reinforce adverse (and positive) perceptions of race and identity, which in turn informs and impacts our sense of inclusiveness or alienation, our ‘cultural’ behaviors, and our collective self-worth
- October 13: Opening Reception in partnership with and on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University, with readings by Wheatly Book Award Winners, announcement of the Fort Worth Literacy Award winner, and introduction of Fort Worth BookFest Writing S.W.A.G. award winner.
- October 14: Fort Worth BookFest, in partnership with Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus, features authors and booksellers; workshops and seminars in partnership with the City of Fort Worth Economic Development & Emerging Businesses Department; AfricCom; Authors Round-up for Children in partnership with the Fort Worth Library; Movies-that-Matter in partnership with the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission; artists, artisans, entertainment, food and beverages. Some activities will be live-streamed.
- October 15: Authors Brunch with authors (TBD), a partner (TBD), and the live-streamed Writers on Writing, with Max Rodriguez.
For more information about Fort Worth BookFest, and sponsorship, volunteer, and participation opportunities, contact Reba Henry at (817) 929-4054 or fwbookfest@gmail.com. Visit the event website at www.fortworthbookfest.com.
(From organization’s press release)
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Writers’ League Celebrates “Texas Independents” Mar. 2, Odessa College
In March 2017 the Writers’ League of Texas will partner with some of the state’s greatest Independents—in conjunction with Texas Independence Day—to host a series of free and open events throughout the month of March in communities across the state.
These panel discussions (featuring authors and experts and including time for questions and networking) will focus on the great opportunities that Texas has to offer, from independent presses, to journals, to bookstores, and beyond, while also answering writers’ burning questions about the publishing process, submitting to agents, catching the eye of an editor, and more.
“Celebrating Texas Independents: Our Great Literary State’s Independent Presses, Journals, Bookstores & More” will kick off in Odessa, Texas, moderated by WLT Executive Director Becka Oliver and four great panelists (including Will Evans, founder and president of Cinestate, and Kay Ellington, publisher of Lone Star Literary Life; the full list of panelists will be available online soon.)
March 2, 2017, 7 p.m., free and open to the public
Odessa College – Saulsbury Campus Center
Zant Room (West)
201 W. University Blvd., Odessa, TX 79764
RSVPs are suggested, but not required. Light refreshments served.
(Information from organization’s press release)
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