Last Tuesday I offered a list of fall literary events
in North Texas, but only managed to get through mid-September before my screen
filled up. So, here’s a continuation. I’ll admit, though all of these are in
Texas, they’re not all necessarily in North Texas. And these are personal
suggestions; more opportunities are sure to pop up later!
September 19: Dallas Area Writers Group (DAWG) holds
its first ever writing workshop, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the DeSoto, Texas, Civic
Center. Eight pros (including several from the local chapter of Mystery Writers
of America) discuss writing from the standpoints of both new and published
authors. Seating is limited. Cost includes lunch, $75 ($50 for DAWG members) online,
$80 the day of the convention, if seats are still available.
September 25-26: Indiepalooza Conference, sponsored by
Houston Writer’s Guild at Crowne Plaza Houston Galleria Area, 7611 Katy
Freeway, Houston. Cost: $120 both days for HWG members, $150 for nonmembers,
single day passes and select classes available separately. See HWG’s site for
registration as well as selling events for authors, including tables at the
Texas Book Festival in Austin.
September 25-28: FenCon literary science
fiction/fantasy convention, at The Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport, 4545 W.
John Carpenter Freeway, in Irving. (Note: this is a new location.) Cost is $40 for regular registration, $55 for “Friend
of Fen” registration, discounts for children and youth memberships. FOF and
online registration close September 1 (that’s today, folks!) but walk-up
registration available during the convention. Entries for the convention’s
young writers story contest accepted through September 10 (although adult story
contest is now closed).
October 5: Dallas Arts & Letters Live continues at the Dallas Museum of Arts, 7:30 p.m. Joyce Carol Oates and Natasha
Trethewey, Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry and former US poet laureate.
Tickets $35, discounts for DMA members and students. At DMA, 1717 N. Harwood,
Dallas.
October 9-10: Greater Dallas Metro Postcard and Paper Postcard& Paper Show. Can’t resist the look (and smell) of real paper? Check
out this collectors’ paradise of vintage postcards, author and celebrity
autographs, prints, maps, and every imaginable kind of paper ephemera. At
Southfork Hotel, 1600 N. Central Expressway (exit 29, east side), in Plano.
Admission $3 for regular admission both days (opening 10 a.m.), $5 early bird
admission (opening 9 a.m.).
October 17-18: Texas Book Festival. The big
one, in Austin, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 17), 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 18).
More than 250 nationally and critically recognized authors at more than 20
venues, including the State Capitol, Congress and 11th Streets.
Free.
October 19: Authors LIVE!, a presentation of
Friends of the Highland Park Library, Friends of the SMU Library, and Highland
Park United Methodist Church. Betty Carroll discusses her book, Lady Bird and Lyndon, at 7 p.m. in
Wesley Hall of HPUMC, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Free, or reserve a signed
book and place at an author’s reception for $30. The Authors LIVE! Series
continues October 29 with James Kaplan and his book, Sinatra: The Chairman.
November 11: Amitav
Ghosh, author of Sea
of Poppies and other award-winning books, will
discuss his latest, Flood of Fire, at 7:30 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall of the University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road,
Richardson. Free. Seating is first come, first served, beginning 30 minutes ahead
of the appearance.
November 13-15: Readers & ‘ritas: romance
readers and authors mingle, Hilton Garden Inn, Allen. Readers regular
registration $140.
November 17: Farina Lecture Series, Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas. Baseball historian Talmage Boston,
author of 1939: Baseball’s Tipping Point
and Baseball and the Baby Boomer,
discusses American’s favorite pastime, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free.
Is that enough for now? Let me know what incredible
thing I left out and I’ll consider posting it another day.
