As soon as the thermometer hits 90 degrees F., it's summertime in Texas. And summer literary events are off to a blazing start, beginning this week. (Note: some events have earlier registration deadlines.)
May 9-August 16: Dallas Arts & Letters Live opens its 2023 season with Abraham Verghese (The Covenant of Water). In-person tickets for this opening event are sold out, but see the site for virtual tickets, $15 for the public or $12 for Dallas Museum of Arts members. Ticket prices and venues vary for additional speaker programs. See the site for details and ticket purchases.
May 10-14: The Dallas is Lit! literary festival, courtesy of the Dallas Writers Garret features programs at a variety of venues in Dallas' historic Oak Cliff neighborhood and for a variety of ages, including a Rail Writers field trip, ghost story telling, multilingual poetry performances, readings and workshops. Most events free, but reservations may be recommended. See the site for details and locations.
May 11: The Dallas Historical Society presents "Blood and Thunder: An Evening with Mark Finn" in discussion about Texas pulp fiction author Robert E. Howard and his place in Texas literary history. Howard's creations -- Conan, King Kull and others -- defined heroic fantasy but the author himself, who died tragically at age 30, has fallen into obscurity. His biographer, Mark Finn, offers a tour of Howard's world as he saw it -- through his incomparable imagination. In the Hall of State, Fair Park, 3939 Grand Ave., Dallas, at 6:30 p.m. Free, but see the site for ticket reservations.
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| Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay |
June 3-August 12: Summer reading programs aren't just for kids! Grownups can participate too, through the Dallas Public Library's SMART Summer program. Read 60 minutes a day (ebooks and audiobooks count!) and pick up a free book every 20 days. Adults who read at least 50 days by August 12 will be entered to win the grand prize. Readers can also earn challenge badges with STEM and art activities and classes for additional prize choices. Free, but register at the site.
June 7-July 26: The annual Rejebian Series hosts book reviews and author talks beginning at 7 p.m., in Wesley Hall of Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. This year's series opens with author Sam W. Haynes' discussion of Unsettled Land, his history of the Texas Revolution and Republic, and the states diverse people. Programs repeat each Wednesday through July 26.
Other authors discussing their own works include Texans Kathleen Kent, Dave Lieber and Marjorie Herrera Lewis, as well as reviews by professional speakers. Free, or reserve an optional dinner at 5:30 p.m. for $15 online through the site or by calling 214-523-2240. Books available for purchase in most cases.
June 8-10: The Historical Novel Society North America holds its conference in San Antonio, Texas, this year. (There's also a virtual version.) But hurry. In-person registration closes May 15, virtual June 4. Either option offers access to award winning authors, including special guests Lisa Wingate, Jamie Ford, Libbie Grant and James Scott Bell.
Prices: $589 for in-person HNS members, $639 for nonmembers; virtual attendees $299, students $350. In-person attendees may also book rooks at the Marriott Rivercenter at the conference rate.
But, you may ask, will there be agents and editors in attendance? Yes, 15 agents and editors will offer virtual and/or in-person meetings with authors. These can include either pitches or advice on honing query letters. Cost is $25 for each pitch or query letter session. See the site for details, agent/editor lists, and registration.
August 4-6: ArmadilloCon returns with its annual writers workshop, at Austin Southpark Hotel, Austin, Texas. Registration for the workshop is $125, which includes workshop, lunch, and membership for the rest of the convention. Note: manuscripts are due June 23. The workshop is only for manuscripts of original, unpublished speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, bizarro, and similar).
A limited number of workshop places are available to writers of color, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, and those whose financial status might otherwise prevent their participation. Contact the workshop director at www.writersworkshop@armadillocon.org for enrollment and other questions.
August 12: The North Texas Book Festival offers chances to chat with and buy the books of favorite local authors. Free to the public, at Patterson-Appleton Arts Center, 400 E. Hickory St., Denton Texas. See the site for additional information.
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Is something missing? The pandemic, economic issues and, dare we say, climate change, have caused several rearrangements of Texas traditional summer literary events. The annual REH Days, celebrating Texas fantasy writer Robert E. Howard at his hometown of Cross Plains were moved from June to April this year. Most REH programs are outdoors, and June in Texas can get hot!
FenCon, the Dallas-area science fiction/fantasy convention usually held in early fall has been moved to February 2024, with a new venue. I'm hoping it will also bring back its writers workshop.
The Writers League of Texas Agents and Editors Conference has turned into a biannual event, next scheduled for 2024.
And no dates have yet been announced for the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, which has fluctuated between summer and fall in recent years. However, the site says registration will open soon. I'll post when more information is available.
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Next up: Yes, there will be writing contests! Stay tuned!
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