A fast and furious literary season for Texas

It’s May, the merry month when, in Texas, temperatures turn from pleasant to blistering, and the weather hazards shift from hailstorms and tornadoes to hurricanes. At least there are plenty of literary goings-on to distract us from any outside contretemps.

May 4-6: The force is still with writers looking for weekend passes to Writefest, the collaborative effort of Writespace and the Houston Writers’ Guild. Sad to say, registration for pitch sessions with agents/editors and for writing workshops is closed. But tickets are still available for the weekend festival (today through Sunday) and one passes for today and Saturday. Three-day pass tickets are $375, available only at the door, which include lunch with keynote speaker Justin Cronin (The Passages trilogy), socials, Sunday write-in, and more. 

Friday-only passes are $135, only available at the door, with access to panels, presentations, and offsite events.

image: pixabay

Saturday-only passes are $125 today, or $185 at the door, with a literary journal fair in addition to panels, presentations and offsite events.

Most events at Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, Houston. Check site for details and offsite event locations.

May 5: I don’t usually list regular writing group meetings (for that, see WORD (link)) but must mention that Suzanne Frank, director of SMU’s CAPE Creative Writing program is the speaker for Saturday’s meeting of Dallas Mystery Writers. Frank’s presentation is 10-noon at the Addison Olive Garden restaurant, 4240 Beltline Road in Addison. The meeting will be followed by lunch. Cost is $5 for those staying for lunch, $10 for attendees at the speaker-only presentation. 

May 12: Just for fun -- O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships, 409 E. 5^th Street, Austin (O. Henry Museum).

June 6 – August 1: Rejebian returns! This weekly summer book group showcases the lighter side of Texas books and authors, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Wesley Hall of Highland Park United Methodist Church. Presentations are free or make reservations for an optional dinner at 5:30 p.m. for $13. You can pay at the door for the meal, but please make reservations by calling 214-523-2240 so they’ll know how much food to cook! 

June 8-9: Robert E. Howard Days commemorate the life (and tragic death) of the creator of Conan the Cimmerian and other iconic fantasy adventures, in Howard’s hometown of Cross Plains, Texas. Events include tours of the REH Museum, Cross Plains and its environs (fictionalized as many of the settings for Howard stories), original Howard manuscripts at the Cross Plains library, and banquet with this year’s guest of honor, “Indiana Bill” Cavalier, a mainstay of Howard fandom. All events except the banquet are free. See the site for details and banquet registration.

June 9-10: The DFW Writers Conference is a multi-genre writers’ conference with agents, workshops and panels and inspiration galore, including keynote speaker Scott Westerfield. At Hurst Conference Center, 1600 Campus Drive, in Hurst. Each registration includes a pitch session with an agent, and additional pitch sessions are available for $40. Registration for both days is $399, Saturday-only $269, Sunday-only $229 (which includes the conferences infamous Gong Show lunch). Know a young writer? Teens 15-17 can get in both days for $149 (with adult ticket holder). And yes, teens also qualify for the agent pitch sessions. 

June 29-July 1: Writers’ League of Texas 2018 Agents and Editors Conference , Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road, Austin. It’s HUGE! At this time, there are at least 20 confirmed agents and four publishing editors (some accepting unagented submissions). At this time, the registration fee ($449 for Writers’ League members, $509 for nonmembers) does not include pitclhes to agents or editors, but pitches may be scheduled for an additional fee as time and space permit. 

Plus, again, lots and lots of presentations and panels with at least 100 publishing professionals. 

July 20-22: The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is the place in Texas for narrative nonfiction writers, with workshops, panels, keynote speakers and yes – agents! At the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, 1800 State Highway 26, in Grapevine. Registration $425. See the site for details.

August 3-5: ArmadilloCon is Texas’ summer heat-busting science fiction/fantasy convention with a writing workshop. Sure, you can attend the myriad panels and presentations with all your favorite speculative fiction authors and artists for only $45 (current price), but why not spring for the writing workshop too? Submit your original, unpublished science fiction, fantasy or horror short story and get info on writing craft plus critique sessions for $90, which includes full convention membership as well. But hurry – writing workshop submissions are due June 15! At the Omni Southpark Hotel, 4140 Governor’s Row, in Austin.  

Wordcraft – Set a course for summer literary destinations

Events for writers – and readers – crowd the summer calendar. And in Texas, summer starts in May! I’m concentrating on conferences, reading clubs, and reviews in North Texas, plus a couple elsewhere too good to miss.

May 16-September 13: Arts & Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of Art. Yes, this series about books and writers begins early in the year, but it doesn’t slow down when temperatures rise. Inspired by the DMA’s annual hosting of a naturalization ceremony, the museum presents Oral Fixation – Destination America: True Stories of Immigration this Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for the public, discounts for DMA members. Most events are at the museum, 1717 N. Harwood, but see www.dallasmuseumofart.org for details.

May 19: Friends of the Sachse Public Library sponsor Author.con, a celebration of local authors. Free, at the library, 3815 Sachse Road. Books available for purchase (check or cash only). See www.cityofsachse.com/index.aspx?NID=457 for complete list of authors and genres.

June 3-July 29: Rejebian Summer Series each Wednesday in June and July, with author readings and reviews at 7 p.m. Free, or $12 to add a dinner reservation. Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. See www.hpumc.org/rejebian for list of programs.

June 6-August 1: Mayor’s Summer Reading Club at Dallas Public Library branches. It’s not just for kids! Sign up at https://dallaslibrary2.org/childrenCenter/summerReadingProgram or any of the Dallas Library's 29 branches for fun and prizes. See the website for guidelines.

June 26-28: Writers’ League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference, Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road, in Austin. This is the biggest general interest conference for writers in the state. Lots and lots of agents, craft workshops and panels. Registration is $489 through June 5 or until sold out (which can happen). See www.writersleague.org/Calendar/2015conference for registration, details, agent list.

July 17-19: Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, Hilton DFW Lakes Conference Center, 1800 Highway 26 East, in Grapevine. Basic registration $425, additional charges for contests and sessions with agents. See www.cvent.com/events/2015-mayborn-literary-nonfiction-conference/event/ for details and schedule.

July 17-19: LexiCon Writers Conference in Denton. My Writers Guild newsletter states that WGT members (membership $25) may attend LexiCon for $100 instead of the new attendee price of $150. See www.Lexi-ConwritersConference.com for details.

July 24-26: DFW Writers’ Conference moves to the Wyly Theater, 2400 Flora Street, in the Dallas Arts District. Agents, workshops, and inspirational speakers. One agent pitch session and catered lunches are included in the registration cost of $399. See http://dfwcon.org for details and schedule.

July 24-26: ArmadilloCon37, Omni Southpark Hotel, 4140 Governors Row, in Austin. A literary convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, with art, animation, science and gaming. Add a daylong writing workshop with critique of your work for $79.50. (Writing entries due June 15!) See http://armadillocon.org for details.