May 27-June 2: Writefest, Anderson-Clarke Center on the Rice
University Campus, 6100 S. Main St., Houston. Tickets available for full-week,
weekend and one-day entries, $125 - $425. This partnership between the Houston
Writers Guild and Writespace has grown into a fantastic event for writers and
readers alike. Events include genre-based writing workshops, presentations by
literary professionals, and panels on writing, publishing, and marketing. All
tickets come with the option of purchasing a pitch session with one of the
attending agents and editors for $50. Just want to dip a toe in the literary
scene? Readings and open mics Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights are free
and open to the public. See the site for details.
May 28 - June 1: Speaking of growing – the Dallas Book Festival has outgrown its original library space and morphed into the Dallas Festival of Books & Ideas, at multiple locations. Opening with The Physical City May 28, at UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth Brain Performance Institute (possibly a good starting place for literary types!), it moves to The Dallas Institute; UT Southwestern Medical Center; Interabang Books; Summer in the City (at the Dallas Public Library's Central Branch, 1515 Young Street); and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Summer in the City is the closest match to the former stand-alone book festival. From 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 1, the Central Branch of the Dallas Public Library hosts a celebration of books, authors, and reading on every floor. Summer in the City, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Central Branch, address. Featured authors include Laura Numeroff (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie); Melanie Benjamin (The Girls in the Picture); Steven L. Davis and Bill Minutaglio (The Most Dangerous Man in America); Melissa Lenhardt (Heresy); and Joe Lansdale (The Elephant of Surprise).
While you’re there, readers of all ages can sign up for the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge. Teens can stick around after the fest to watch the first Teen Rap Battle. And yes, there’s more! All Festival of Books & Ideas events are free, but space is limited, so please register ASAP!
June 5 – July 31: The Rejebian summer series of books reviews
returns Wednesdays beginning June 5, at Highland Park United Methodist Church. Speakers include authors Mark Lamster, Anne
Keene, Jeff Guinn, and Leila Meacham, and reviewers Lurline Morrow, Nancy
Ashley, Dana Harkey, Colleen Boudreaux, and Rose-Mary Rumbley. All
presentations at 7 p.m. in the church’s Wesley Hall auditorium, 3300 E.
Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Or attend pre-event dinner with each night’s speaker
at 5:30 p.m. for $13, payable at the door with cash or check. Please make
dinner reservations by the Tuesday preceding the event by calling 214-523-4420.
June 7-8: Of course, the father of the
sword-and-sorcery literary genre, creator of Conan the Barbarian (or Cimmerian,
to purists), Robert E. Howard, had to be a Texan! Robert E. Howard Days celebrates his all-too-short life and writings with events
throughout Cross Plains, Texas, where Howard churned out stories in a variety
of genres from his family’s home, now a museum, located at the intersection of
Texas State Highway 36 and Avenue J. Attendance at Friday night’s banquet
requires a $15 registration fee, but all other events are free. This year’s
guest of honor is David C. Smith, author of Robert
E. Howard – A Literary Biography, but several more Howardian scholars will
also be in attendance. The Cross Plains Library’s collection of Howard
publications is a must-see.
June 7-July 26: If you want to write and illustrate your own
picture book, the Young Authors program of the Richardson Public Library is the place to be! Open to Richardson
residents only, entering grades 5-9. Fridays at noon beginning June 7. Free,
but registration required, May 20-June 14. Sessions in the basement of the
library at 900 Civic Center Dr., Richardson. Weekly sessions inspire and guide
youngsters through the process of writing and illustration, culminating in the
publication of two copies of each child's book – one to keep, one for library
patrons to check out! Nothing beats seeing readers check out your own book!
June 22-23: DFWCon: Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Conference, voted a favorite Texas writing conference, returns to
Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst. Regular registration through
June 14, $399; $429 June 15-June 22; one-day passes also available for Saturday
(June 22) and Sunday (June 23). Discussions, workshops, networking – and the
delightfully wonky Gong Show, which gives anonymous participants a peek at how
real literary agents react to their queries. Other highlights include the
announcement of the winner of this year's WRiTE CLUB contest, and keynote
speaker Chuck Wendig. All registrations include one pitch session with a
visiting literary agent or editor.
June 28-30: The Writer’s League of Texas Agents &
Editors Conference brings together more than 20 nationally-known literary agents
and editors with award-winning and bestselling authors for conversations on the
craft of writing and practical steps toward publication. Hyatt Regency Austin,
208 Barton Springs Road, Austin. Registration $459 for members, $519 for
nonmembers, as long as space is available.
July 19-21: Just for writers, readers and lovers of
literary nonfiction is the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writing Conference, Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference
Center, at 1800 State Highway 26, in Grapevine. General admission is $475, with
one-day tickets and tickets for optional events, including a manuscript contest
and agent pitches, also available.
August 2-4: ArmadilloCon is a science fiction & fantasy
convention with a writing workshop! (Note: deadline for manuscript submission
to attend the workshop is June14!) Omni Southpark, Austin. Memberships: $45 for
adults, $30 for children (ages 7-12); $30 for students (current ID required);
$90 for writing workshop (includes full membership). See the site for details.
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