Scorching Texas temps signal fall literary events

 (Updated July 13 to include Richardson Reads One Book)

July temperatures in Texas are in the high-90’s with “feel-like” temps in the triple digits. Which is great news because – it means autumn’s on the way!

So, for the next few months, here are some literary events in the state to look forward to. But first, a couple of contest updates.

First: The Writer’s League of Texas reminds me their manuscript contest is still open. But only until July 10. Which I’m guessing means the League really, really wants to see our work. I even dug out an older manuscript, brushed it off and sent it in, with the promise of whether their editors loved it or hated the tar out of it, I’ll get feedback in September.

A couple of things in this contest were new to me, although possibly not to more recent participants. Usually, the entry form requests the first 10 pages of manuscript plus a synopsis. This time, the limit is 2,750 words INCLUDING synopsis. My advice – keep the synopsis as short as possible, using the format from my February 22, 2025, post “Writing a synopsis – the short road to a long tale.”

Check the WLT’s site for full details.

Second: Since I posted about the Laree Bryant Memorial Scholarship Contest sponsored by Dallas Mystery Writers the group has updated some of its requirements.

Previously, the contest was advertised as open to all fiction genres. DMW has now added “except erotica” to that list.  Also clarified is that entrants may not be traditionally or self-published in any form of fiction for the past year. That’s after September 5, 2025, for this year’s contest ending September 5, 2026.  Previous winners must wait three years to re-enter.

Unlike the WLT’s contest, there’s no entry fee for this one, and the winner receives a paid in full registration for the October 2026 Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Conference . Again, see my post, “Sunny days of writing & reading – plus a new writing contest,” for details. 

image from  Pixabay

Now, to upcoming events: 

Sept. 11-13: ArmadilloCon 2026, the sci-fi/fantasy/horror convention has a new hotel – Holiday Inn Austin Midtown, 6000 Middle Fiskville Rd. Other than that, it’s the same fan-run, fan-generated convention that’s been putting the “weird” in Austin since 1979.

Besides chances to hear and see favorite genre writers and artists, it includes a writers workshop on the 11^th.

Early bird adult memberships are $80 or add the writing workshop for a total of $179, including Friday lunch and membership in the rest of the convention. See th-ole site for registration and special rates for student and child memberships.

Hotel reservations at convention rates are also available, but this is the weekend for the Texas v. Ohio State football game, so the hotel expects to sell out quickly.

Sept. 15: Richardson Reads One Book, the North Texas city's municipal-wide read-a-thon, returns with New York Times best-selling author Kate Messner's The Trouble with Heroes. The story follows 13-year-old Finn Collins, who lashed out at fate following the death of his father in the COVID pandemic by vandalizing the grave of a legendary woman mountain climber. The woman's daughter offers a surprising chance at redemption--if Finn can match the climber's record while accompanied by her dog.

Free online tickets for the author discussion available starting in September. Contact the Richardson Public Library at 972-744-4100 or at richardsonreadstx@gmail.com for more information.

Messner will appear at First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, at 7: 30 p.m. Sept. 15. 

Sept. 23-27: Archer City Traditional Workshop, sponsored by the Larry McMurty Literary Center . is open to writers of nearly every genre  -- fiction, nonfiction narratives, memoir, history, features (even poetry and songwriting!) at all levels of experience. At the Spur Hotel, 110 North Center Street, in Archer City, with opportunities to visit McMurtry’s former “Booked Up” bookstore and the home of the Larry McMurtry Literary Center. See the site for detailed information, itinerary and registration.

Cost: $795 by Sept. 1, $895 thereafter, $100 non-refundable deposit required upon first registration. Fee includes lodging and even meals Wednesday through Saturday. 

For hotel questions or questions about Archer City, contact Kathy Floyd at kfloyd@lmcmurtrylitcenter.org.

Sept. 30 – Oct. 4: The Larry McMurtry Literary Center also sponsors the workshop, Writing Dynamic Memoir: From Lived Experience to Gripping Story, with instructors Ronin Plank and Glenn Stout. Also at  the Spur Hotel in Archer City.

Ronit Plank is a writer, teacher and editor whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times and numerous other venues. Glenn Stout is the author, editor or ghostwriter of more than 100 books for both adult and  juvenile audiences.

Cost: $1,395 by Sept. 1, $1,495 thereafter, with $100 non-refundable deposit. Fee includes lodging and evening meals Wednesday through Sunday. See the site (www.lmcmurtrylitcenter.org)  to register.

For hotel questions or questions about Archer City, contact Kathy Floyd at kfloyd@lmcmurtrylitcenter.org.

Oct. 3-4: DFW Writers Conference returns to the Hurst Convention Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst, TX. Lots of programming and a ticket buys one chance to pitch to the agent or editor of your choice (while time permits).

Regular registration through September 20, $449. Regular one-day registration through Sept. 20, $250. Late registration Sept. 21-Oct. 1, $499 (two-day) and $299 (one-day). See the site  for registration and additional information. Or add on the pre-con Pitch Perfect Workshop, Oct.2 for $20.

Hotel reservations at the adjoining Hilton Garden Inn are also available at convention rates while space is available.

Oct. 16-18: Hay Festival Forum Dallas 2026 presents writers, musicians and activists in conversations, performances and book clubs across the Bishop Arts District in Dallas.

Limited information so far, but Hay Festival Forum Dallas will highlight over 25 artist and 30 events. Now in its eighth year, this will be the largest and most inclusive Forum yet, offering big stage conversations, workshops and book clubs in venues across the city, including The Texas Theatre, Dallas Public Library, Whose Books, Oak Cliff Assembly, and The Wild Detectives bookstore.

The bilingual program promises a world of different perspectives, celebrating the range of backgrounds, languages, and experiences represented by its guests, while bridging the border with local writing stars and headline names from further afield.

Nov. 14-15: The Texas Book Festival returns for venues at the state capitol and around Austin! Stay tuned to the site for more details.

 

Literary events like autumn leaves in Texas

 For some creatures, hibernation is a winter event. For Texans, it occurs during the deadly heat of late summer. But while I've struggled to keep my garden alive, other Texans have prepared an autumn-long list of state literary events. 

Note: Updates are now available for AuthorPalooza, Mayborn, Tulisoma and the Texas Book festival.

September 1: The Dallas Mystery Writers Laree Bryant Memorial Scholarship contest is this Monday. It's a contest dear to many Dallas-area writers, celebrating Laree's life and legacy. As I've posted previously, the rules are simple:

• Be on the DMW mailing list. It's free, by clicking on the link at the website.
• Don't have published fiction for the public (traditional or self-published) within the last five years
• Open to all genres. 

See the site for formatting details of your writing sample and a brief biography, sent to sandysteenwrites@gmail.com. The prize is a ticket to the DFW Writers Conference (see more below) valued at $500. The winner will be announced at the DMW's meeting September 6.

September 12-14: ArmadilloCon is Austin's convention for science fiction, fantasy, and horror fans, now in its 47th year. See the site for details and registration. Entries for the associated writers workshop are now closed, but I plan to attend. If you see me, say hi!

September 13: Trinity River Book Festival is a Fort Worth multicultural event with multiple books, authors, ad running. Yes, get your heart pumping with the run-to-read event. Free, but see the site for event schedule and to register for promotional giveaways, updates, and notifications.

September 16: Tickets (free!) for the Richardson Reads One Book event are now available. Or add a $35 luncheon ticket with Rowan Jacobsen, author of the 2025 RROB selection, Wild Chocolate, about the quest to revive ancient cacao and produce the world's finest chocolate. 

The deadline to purchase luncheon tickets is September 10, but space is limited. 

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. lecture are available (limited to 2 per order) on a first-come, first-served basis. Again, space for the event at First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway in Richardson, is limited.

See the site for details or email richardsonreadstx@gmail.com for additional information.

Image by Carlos Villada for Pixabay

September 27-28: AuthorPalooza 2025 fills the Ley Student Center, 6100 Main St., Houston (on the Rice University campus) with favorite authors and books. Sponsored by the Houston Writers Guild. See the site for tickets and additional information.

Update: Houston Writers Guild reports AuthorPalooza 2025 was cancelled for reasons beyond its control. Ticket holders should have already received notification and full refund. For additional questions or feedback, contact the Guild.

October 4-5: The DFW Writers Conference returns to the Hurst, Texas, conference center 1615 Campus Drive, in Hurst. Events include keynote speakers Kelly Bishop (The Third Gilmore Girl) and literary agent Carly Watters, more than a dozen literary agents and editors (one complimentary pitch session with ticket) and classes and workshops galore.

See the site for details and registration.

October 24-25: Registration for The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is now open. More details still to come. See the site or visit maybornconferenceinfo@unt.edu.\

Update: Registration for the Mayborn is due by October 13. Full conference pass to all events including $20 documentary film series day pass is $150. The film series pass may be purchased separately for $20. Full pass registrants may also add a $50 writers' workshop registration. Registration for the writers' workshop closes October 1, and materials must be submitted by October 3. See the site for additional information, including hotel accommodations.

November 7-8: The 21st Tulisoma: South Dallas Book Fair connects readers with Black authors, publishers, and storytellers from across the country. At the African American Museum in Dallas Fair Park, 3536 Grand Avenue. Free. See the site for details.

Update: Tulisoma hours are 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Events include workshops, more than 40 authors sharing their work, and featured speaker Dr. Linda Hall Searight, author of I Am God's Property, sharing insights that led to the creation of her award-winning choir in the 1990's. See the site under "events" for additional information. 

November 8-9: The 30th Texas Book Festival returns to multiple venues in and around downtown Austin and around the Texas Capitol. Check the site for ongoing details, including the author lineup to be unveiled later this fall.

Update: More than 300 authors are lined up for the November 8-9 Texas Book Festival. The festival is free but tickets may be required for some events and activities. Tickets to headliner talks are now available for purchase. Best sources of information seem to be the festival's social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Writing contests, classes & conferences: welcome to fall!

 What a summer it's been! I'm back from the hades that is summer in Texas, amazed at how good it felt recently to have days when the temperature didn't top 101 degrees F. (What we in the Lone Star State call a "cool spell.") Even cooler, the new season come with a fresh list of writing conferences, classes and contests. I'm partial to Texas-related events but sometimes include others, especially if they're online.

First: the contests:

Now-Oct. 15: Pulp Literature's Raven Short Story Contest for unpublished short fiction (500-2,500 words). No need to include birds but hurry, total entries are limited to 200. Early bird entry fee (before September 15) $15, regular entry fee $20. Or add an editorial critique for $25. 

Now-Oct. 24: A Texas contest! The Kathryn McClatchy Flash Fiction Contest sponsored by the Writers Guild of Texas. Entries must be unpublished, with word counts between 300-1,000. Limited to WGT members but for a fee of $35, non-members receive a one-year membership as well as entry into the contest. Cash prizes for first through fourth (honorable mention) winners. See the site for details, including format and judging criteria.

Now-Oct. 31: How about, from across the pond, Flash 500's Novel Opening & Synopsis Competition? For novels, whether started or completed, with strong, credible characters, page-turning plots and compelling synopsis. Send first chapters (up to first 3,000 words) of unpublished works only, plus synopsis. Cash prizes. Entry fees: £10 for one novel, £18 for two, £26 for three. Online payment methods will happily translate these amounts into dollars. See the site for details.

Oct. 1-mid-Nov.: Carve Magazine's Prose & Poetry Contest seeks the best literary fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Carve is based in Dallas, Texas, but accepts writers from all over the world. Cash prizes in each genre, with winners published in the magazine's spring issue. See the site for details.

Dec. 1: Still missing the now-retired PitMad? Don't be sad! Try Cam Cat Books version on X (formerly known as Twitter). Check out details at www.twitter.com, #CamCatPitMad.

Want more contests? Check out lists from Publishing. . . and Other Forms of Insanity, Writer's Digest, Reedsy and Writers of the Future.

***

Now, about polishing the craft, pitching, networking, and just plain loving the whole writing and literature thing with Conferences and Classes:

Sept. 9-10: Hay Forum Dallas, at indie bookstore The Wild Detectives, 314 W. 8th St., Dallas, features writers from several Latin American countries as well as the United States. The format is based on the original festival at Hay-on-Why, Wales, which has since branched across Europe and Latin America. Free. RSVP at the site for times and details. 

Sept. 13 (repeating monthly): Another Texas goodie from Dallas Writers Garret and The Wild Detectives -- a monthly poetry series. RSVP at The Wild Detectives site for an evening with featured writer Christine Suggs, followed by a brief open mic session.

Sept. 16: Indie bookstore The Dock in Fort Worth celebrates National Literacy Month with the Trinity River Book Festival, featuring more than 20 local and national authors plus other family-friendly events. At Trinity River Pavilion 1, across from Chuy's Restaurant, West 7th St., Fort Worth.  See the site for details.

Now-Nov. 28: Arts & Letters Live continues its literary and performing arts series, sponsored by the Dallas Museum of Art. Guest speakers include Jonatha Eig, Barbara Kingsolver, Mary Beard, Jesmyn Ward, Zadie Smith and more. Ticket prices and venues vary. See the site for details.

Sept. 26: Richardson Reads One Book Author Lecture at 7:30 p.m., in First United Methodist Church, Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway in Richardson, Texas, showcases Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures. Free, or add on an author interview and luncheon at the University of Texas at Dallas Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center. See the site for details, including how to secure free tickets for the lecture and purchases for the interview and luncheon.

Image: Carlos Villada for Pixabay 

Oct. 7-8: The DFW Writers Conference offers more than 50 classes, 12+ agents and editors, and guest speakers Dave Eggers and Evangeline Lilly, at the Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr., Hurst, Texas. See the site for full agenda and tickets.

Nov. 1-30: Neither a class nor a conference, but NaNoWriMo offers a full month of incentives to finish that first draft of a novel. Free. See site for details, including ways to become involved locally and with other writers.

Nov. 11-12: The Texas Book Festival in Austin includes national and regional authors such as Ann Patchett, Abraham Verghese, Time magazine editor Walter Isaacson, political leader Stacey Abrams, and more! Free. See the site for details and venues throughout downtown Austin.

Dec. 9-10: The last few years were big on virtual conferences and the online format's become a staple. So, I can't resist mentioning the Writer's Digest University Historical Fiction virtual conference. Contents include webinar presentations from six award-winning, best-selling historical fiction authors, query letter feedback, and more. See the site for cost and details. 

In there more? Yes, indeed! The Writers League of Texas offers numerous classes both in person and online. See the site for details.

***

Still to come: Stuff I learned while it was too hot to post!

Weird & wonderful fall writing contests and events

(Updated November 15 with information about DL Hammons' WRiTE CLUB contest.)

How long has it been since I posted about writing contests? Well, that's too long! Here's a sampling, both wonderful and weird, to whet your writing appetite. The good news -- they're all virtual!

First -- WRiTE CLUB, DL Hammons' popular reader's choice contest, has officially kicked off for 2021. Submissions accepted November 15-28. It's fun! It's Free It's got great prizes. See DL's site  for details.

Now-October 26: The Writers Guild of Texas annual flash fiction contest offers cash prizes to the top four stories. Entries must be 300-1000 words, original, and not previously published. No poetry, essays or fan fiction. See the guidelines for additional requirements. First entry fee for nonmembers is $35, which includes a complimentary WGT membership through December of the following year, $15 each for additional entries (maximum of three). WGT members may submit one entry at no additional cost. Additional submissions cost $15 per entry. See the site for additional guidelines.

Now-November 15: Carve Magazine's Prose & Poetry Contest 2021 offers cash prizes and publication for winners in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Writers may submit multiple entries, with maximum wordcounts of 10,000 for prose, 2,000 for poetry. Stories (literary only -- no genre fiction) essays, and poems must be previously unpublished (including on-line publication). Entry fee: $17. No mailed submissions. See the site for full details.

Image: Ryan McGuire for Pixabay

December 2: Twitter's quarterly pitch your book by tweet event, #PitMad (brought by Pitch Wars) tempts literary agents and acquisition editors to request manuscripts by "liking" the authors' 280-character pitches. Open to all unagented writers working in all genres. Work must be completed and polished but unagented. Include the #PitMad hashtag and an age sub-hashtag. Writers may also include multiple genre or additional hashtags and may multiple manuscripts. Just don't pitch more than three times for any single work during the day. Not yet ready to query? No fear -- #PitMad repeats quarterly, starting again March 2022. See the Pitch Wars site for details.

Now-December 31: L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest is for new and amateur writers of science fiction and fantasy. Repeats quarterly. Cash prizes for first through third-place, with each quarter's first place winners competing for an additional annual prize. Original works only, not previously published in professional media, up to 17,000 words. No entry fee. See the site for details.

Want more? Need more? Of course! So check out Arthur Klepchukov's Writing Contests Worth Your Time and Erica Verrillo's Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity blog. And don't forget Reedsy's list of contests as well as Ralan.com!

***

Then there are the writing/literary conferences. Pandemic protocols moved many of what were normally spring and summer events into late autumn, even early winter, so there's till time to catch some old favorites and make new ones.

October 25-28, 30-31: The Texas Book Festival opted for a hybrid formal. October 25-28 events are virtual, those 30-31 in-person at outdoor venues in Austin, Texas. Free as always, but check the site for details.

November 1-30: Maybe NaNoWriMo (short for National Novel Writing Month) isn't exactly a conference. But this self-described seat-of-your-pants creative writing event has gone world-wide. Start a book, make friends virtually or in-person, and give yourself an excuse to let someone else roast the Thanksgiving turkey!

November 4-7: The World Fantasy Convention goes bravely hybrid -- live from Montreal, Canada, or in your living room. Many details still to be hashed out, so see the site and remember to check COVID-19 protocols for international travel.

November 5-6: New to me is the Fiction Intensive Virtual Writing Conference, taught by the likes of of Steven James, Donald Maass, Tosca Lee, and more authors, agents, and editors. As always, see the site for registration and complete details.

November 18-20: The RWA Conference (Romance Writers of America) opted for full-on virtual. Check the site for details and registration.

December 15-17: Finally on my list of major literary conferences is WorldCon, the international science fiction event, to be held in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned to the site for details.

As we near the end of 2021, look ahead. Some 2022 events are staying virtual -- which means less expensive. Events like Donald Maass's BONI (Breakout Novel Intensive), going virtual June 13-19, 2022; and Breakout Novel Graduate Learning Retreat January 17-23, 2022. And yes, there are in-person versions of both. See the Free Expressions site for details.

(Post updated to include Writers Guild of Texas flash fiction contest)

Is there a rainbow at the pandemic's end?

 While some spent the pandemic binging Netflix, I binged on-line writing conferences. After logging two virtual conferences this summer and finding a new critique group through one of them, I happily signed up for what I expected to be in-person conferences this fall. Then, COVID struck again. And though there's still a lot to report from the virtual Historical Novel and Thrillerfest gatherings, updates on the coming season take precedent.

Readers may have already heard that Bouchercon, the world mystery convention, has been cancelled for 2021. I had been surprised enough to learn, as I reported two months ago, that Bouchercon's organizers were determined to meet in person this August, after going virtual in 2020. But with the conference's scheduled site of New Orleans, Louisiana, experiencing some of the country's highest infection rates, and the cost of going virtual at such a late date proved prohibitive, even murder and mayhem fans called it quits.

If you registered for Bouchercon, you should have received a notice about the refund of your registration fee. Bouchercon is scheduled to return to New Orleans in 2025, the convention's first open date. Meanwhile, we can all hope 2022's version, scheduled for Minneapolis, will go forward.

So, were do literary conferences go from here? A number of conferences normally held during the summer have moved to autumn dates, leading to an unusually crowded late-year calendar. Some are still in-person, some virtual, others -- a mix!

Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay

September 17-19: The Writers League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference in Austin, Texas, had already planned a move to fall. Then, even before the Bouchercon cancellation, I received an email from the Writers League announcing new protocols. As of this writing, the September conference is still an in-person event but with more limited registration. And there's an option for a virtual format.

Both in-person and virtual registrations include a complimentary consultation with an agent or editor. Attendees registering in-person may opt for a face to face consultation or a virtual one. In-person attendees are required to mask, and those opting for in-person consultations must present proof of full vaccination. See the site for registration and additional information.

October 15-17: ArmadilloCon, the Austin, Texas, science fiction/fantasy convention, opted for a virtual format last year but returns in-person in 2021 at the Omni Southpark hotel. Its writing workshop, with critiques, craft and business-style panels, is scheduled for October 15. Registration and submission deadline for the workshop is September 3. See the site for details.

October 15-16: The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference returns in hybrid form. Events Friday (October 15) will be in-person at Interabang Books in Dallas. The all-day Saturday (October 16) programs will be conducted virtually. As always, Mayborn will include writing contests, with entries due September 15. See the site for details and registration.

October 23-24: DFWCon, the writing conference sponsored by the Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Workshop, also normally a summer event, has moved to the fall. Although the group considered the possibility of a virtual conference, they decided to remain in-person, at the Hurst Convention Center, Hurst, Texas. This conference includes consultations with literary agents and editors. See the site for details.

October 25-28, 30-31: The Texas Book Festival opted for a hybrid format. October 25-28 events will be virtual, those for October 30-31 in-person at outdoor venues. Free, as always, for check the site for specifics.

November 4-7: The World Fantasy Convention bravely goes completely live, in Montreal, Canada. See the site for details and remember to check COVID-19 protocols( for international travel.

November 18-20: The RWA (Romance Writers of America) opted for a fully virtual conference. Check the site for details when registration opens September 1.

December 15-17: Finally, on my list of major literary conferences, is WorldCon, the international science fiction event. At this point, WorldCon plans an in-person conference in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned to the site for details.

***

An email for the organization Writing Day Workshops Online also hit my in-box. I have not attended any of these conferences, but they include writing workshops and plentiful lineups of literary agents. Check out Online Chesapeake Writing Workshop September 10-11, Online Writing Workshop of San Francisco October 8-9, and Online North Carolina Writing Workshop November 13.

And as always, I recommend Erica Verrillo's Publishing. . . and Other Forms of Insanity blog for lists of conferences and much, much more!

Fall literary events in Texas – a hurricane can’t stop ‘em!

The last post about the storm of fall literary events in North Texas only had room for August-September events. But fall’s barely started, and festivals, author tours, and workshops are sprouting like mushrooms after a deluge, starting with:

image: pixabay

September 7: If you loved Finn Murphy’s truck driving memoir, The Long Haul, as much as I did (or if you haven’t been introduced to Murphy’s book), truck over to Dallas’ newest independent bookstore, Interabang Books, 10720 Preston Road (Preston at Royal), at 7 p.m. this Thursday, September 7, to meet him and even buy a signed copy of his book.

September 9-11: It’s almost here – the grand opening of Interabang culminating in a party September 11, from 6-9 p.m. with guest of honor Ann Patchett. Patchett is expected to speak at approximately 7 p.m. September 11. Although she will not be able to personalize books, signed copies of her works will be available for sale.

September 24: I said it before, and I’ll say it again – bestselling author Ken Follett’s appearance to open this season’s Arts & Letters Live of the Dallas Museum of Art is a must-hear. He will speak at 7:30 p.m. in First United Methodist Church of Dallas, 1928 Ross Avenue (across from the DMA). Tickets start at $60 for the public, and include a copy of Follett’s latest book. 

October 4: Art Garfunkel appears at the Authors LIVE!  presentation of Friends of SMU Libraries and Friends of the Highland Park Library, to discuss and sign his book, What is All But Luminous. In Wesley Hall of Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, 7 p.m. Unlike most Authors LIVE! events, this one is ticketed, $28, which includes a copy of the book. See the site for details, and preview more of its coming authors.

October 7: The Writers Guild of Texas hosts New York Times bestselling author Cindy Dees as instructor for its fall writing workshop, 9 a.m. – noon in the Richardson, Texas, Civic Center, 411 West Arapaho Road, Richardson. Visit the site for details. Online tickets: $25 for WGT members, $35 for nonmembers. Tickets at the door: $35 for members, $40 for nonmembers at the door, as space is available.

October 7: The Texas Teen Book Festival, 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., at St. Edward’s University, 3001 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. It’s free and so is parking (even for buses). Keynote address by New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu. Costume contest, book signings, dozens of authors! See the site for details and complete author list.

October 10: The Writers League of Texas visits Interabang Books, 10720 Preston Road, Dallas, for a panel discussion: Turn a Mess of Pages into a Book. Something to think about, considering:

November 1-30: November’s month-long run of NaNoWriMo events. (More to come on this topic!)

Vincent Villafranca (file photo)

November 2-5: World Fantasy Convention, Wyndham Riverwalk, 111 East Pecan Street, San Antonio. Yes, THE annual fantasy convention will be in Texas! (Aren't you glad it's not in Houston?) Winner of the design for the WFC Award is Texas sculptor Vincent Villafranca, who some readers may remember from last year's ArmadilloCon in Austin. I mentioned the WFC in an earlier post, then forgot until I saw a post at a literary agency website saying responses may take longer if they happen to be at the WFC. Oops! See the site for details and memberships.

November 4-5: The Texas Book Festival – the BIG ONE! In and around the grounds of the state capitol in Austin. Authors include Dan Rather, Jeffrey Eugenides, Angie Thomas, Claire Messud, and many, many more. See the site for details.

November 10-12: Readers & ‘ritas, Hilton Garden Inn, 705 Central Expressway South, Allen, Texas. is a weekend-long binge of parties with favorite romance authors, panels, and food. Guests of honor are Sherrilyn Kenyon, Cathy Maxwell and Marie Bostwick. See the site for details and pricing, including a weekend pass option which includes a writers workshop November 10, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

November 13: Anne Lamott provides the keynote address for the fall convocation of Perkins School of Theology: The Power of the Story, on the SMU campus. Lamott will read and discuss her latest book, Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy, from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at McFarlin Auditorium on the SMU campus. Books will be available for signing from 9-9:30 p.m. Her appearance is free. See the site for information on the full schedule of convocation events and pricing.

December 1: Texas Book Festival goes to Houston for Reading Rock Stars. Currently, the festival is scheduled to bring six authors to four elementary schools in Houston. See the site for updates as the situation in Houston progresses.

Wordcraft – Want blurbs for our books? Start searching now!

Fourth in an occasional series about publication and promotion

Last Tuesday’s post dealt with searching for literary agents at conferences. Today’s post deals with finding other authors willing to blurb our published books. Wait – we don’t even have agents, let alone publishers, and suddenly we’re talking about those fine lines of print that read “Excellent entertainment,” “Mesmerizing,” “The Ultimate guide” – to quote blurbs from a few books on my reference shelf.

But isn’t it a little early to be looking for that kind of praise? After all, reviewers or famous authors have to be able to read our book before they can heap praise on it, and we don’t even have a book yet for them to read.

We may also be muttering that we would rather crawl into a hole and die than approach (insert famous author’s name here) and ask him/her to time out of a busy, possibly even profitable schedule to read a book by an unknown writer. That’s the good part. Because right now, we’re not asking for blurbs. We’re not even thinking about blurbs. We’re asking to be friends, or at least fans, of authors whose books we like. What author, famous or not, wouldn’t welcome that kind of request? But somewhere down the line, we may have reason to stop and think, yes, these are the people I’d like to get blurbs from.

Because the best people to get recommendations from – and a blurb is only another kind of recommendation – are people with whom we have a personal relationship. And we start those by taking the first step, a meeting. Online is one way to meet. Face to face is another. Which is why I’m listing conferences with plenty of authors ready and eager to meet with readers.

The literary conferences listed last Tuesday (title) are also full of authors happy to chat with readers, and even happier to sell books to readers. But there are even more conferences that feature only authors, and they’re usually less expensive.

image: wikimedia commons

One that has my local chapter of Mystery Writers of America talking is Bouchercon, the world mystery convention, meeting September 15-18 this year in New Orleans. Please note that the deadline for registration is September 9 (this coming Friday). No registration will be available at the door, so hurry for a chance to meet and hang out with hundreds of mystery and thriller authors. 

Also this month, one of my favorite Dallas-area small conferences: FenCon, September 23-25. This features dozens of science fiction, fantasy and horror writers giving readings and opining on panels, all of them with books to sell.

Interested in young adult and middle grade books? Check out the Texas Teen Book Festival in Austin, October 1. Or for the every genre imaginable festival, the Texas Book Festival, November 5-6, also in Austin.

For romance readers, a Dallas-area convention is Readers ‘n’ritas, November 11-13, in Allen, Texas. Smaller than those above, but with dozens of romance authors eager to connect with readers.

For other single-author events or series, see “Fall into autumn with Texas literary events,” at this site, August 16, 2016. To search for authors as well as agents, see "Where the heck do you go to meet an agent?" also at this site, August 30, 2016. Above all, get on the mailing lists of any local or regional bookstores that host author signings.

So now we’ve met, chatted, bought, taken pictures of us smiling with (insert famous author's name here), posted on social media. Aren’t we among hundreds or thousands of fans who’ve done the same? How are the authors of our dreams going to remember us from among all the rest? That’s the next step in the process. But I’ll take a brief hiatus and let book publicist Stephanie Barko tell us next Tuesday what her profession can do.

Wordcraft – Fall into autumn with Texas literary events

This week’s cooler temperatures make it easier to remember that fall is coming, and with it a new season of literary events, most but not all in North Texas. I’m posting about these a little earlier than usual, to give myself a head start on autumn’s plenty.

August 20: Grand re-opening of the Dallas Library’s 7^th floor History and Archives Division, 10:30 a.m. If you’ve never (or not recently) visited this collection, prepare to be amazed. Besides a Shakespeare first folio and a first printing of the Declaration of Independence, the revamped 7th floor houses over 1,800 historic images by pioneering black Dallas photographer Marion Butts, coverage of President Kennedy’s assassination (and related items, including Lee Harvey Oswald’s library card, documenting his overdue books) and more. These unique and fragile items do not circulate outside the library – see them on the 7^th floor only.

August 22-26: For this 10^th anniversary of its Points Summer Book Club, the Dallas Morning News selection is 2016 Pulitzer finalist If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran, by Carla Power. The online discussion runs next Monday through Friday. RSVP  now for for a free forum and book signing with the author August 24, 7-9 p.m., at the University of Texas at Dallas. And see the September 14 World Affairs Council’s event (below) to continue the conversation.

September 6: Tickets will be available at the Richardson, Texas, public library, 900 Civic Center Drive, for the Richardson Reads One Book forum with Joshua Davis, author of Spare Parts, the story of four undocumented kids, one ugly robot and a dream come true. Books are available at Half Price Books Richardson. The author discussion and book signing is September 20 at the auditorium of Richardson High School, 1250 West Beltline Road. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Free, but tickets required due to limited space.

September 11 – November 17: Dallas Museum of Art’s Arts & Letters Live opens its fall season with author Robert Hoge, author of the memoir Ugly. See the site for a complete list of events and ticket prices. Most authors will appear at the DMA, 1717 North Harwood, Dallas.

September 14: World Affairs Council features Joby Warrick, author of Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS. $40. See the site for details.

September 19 – October 23: The Authors LIVE! series opens with a wow – an appearance by Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad, “the most anticipated literary novel of the year” and, no surprise, a pick of Oprah Winfrey’s book club. The series is held at 7 p.m. in Wesley Hall of Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane. Free, no reservations required, but readers may attend a reception with the author and receive a copy of the book for $30. See site for details.

September 23-25: FenCon, the literary science fiction and fantasy convention at the Westin DFW in Irving (State Highway 114 and Esters Road). This year’s con incorporates a 1632 minicon, for fans of the series. $40 online registration through September 1, $45 at the door. Dozens of author panels and signings.

October 1: Texas Teen Book Festival, St. Edward’s University, 3001 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas. Free, with loads of authors. It’s an offshoot of the big mama, the Texas Book Festival (see below). Need we say more? See site for details.

October 13: SMUReads hosts attorney Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy, 4:30 p.m. at McFarlin Auditorium, 6405 Boaz Lane, Dallas. Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative, dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need. Stevenson’s lecture is free, but the university requests preregistration at www.smu.edu/smureads.

November 5-6: Texas Book Festival, with hundreds of adult and teen authors and dozens of venues in and around the State Capitol building, this is huge! Free, see the site for complete author list, schedule, and details about where best to enter the massive event.

Wordcraft – Fall literary events: turning another leaf

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 11^th 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. 

Wordcraft -- Fall into autumn with literary events

School’s started¾ can fall be far behind? Not when the annual Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair and Arts Festival kicks off a new season of reading and writing events this weekend. Here’s a preview of what’s coming up on the literary horizon in North Texas over the next few months.

August 29-30: Tulisoma opens with a tour of historic African-American sites in Dallas, departing Friday, August 29, from the African-American Museum at Dallas Fair Park, 3536 Grand Avenue 10 a.m. The festival continues 3 p.m. August 30, with readings, panels, movies and music. See http://tulisoma.com for a complete schedule. And check out the museum’s exhibits on art and the historic Freedman’s Cemetery while you’re there.

September 4-November 13: Authors LIVE! Series continues through the fall. The series features, among others, authors Jan Karon, Jodi Picoult, Kathy Reichs and S. C Gwynne. At Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Free. See www.hpumc.org/authorslive for details

September 23: The 2014 Richardson Reads One Book is Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, who will speak at Richardson High School, 1250 West Beltline Road, at 7:30 p.m. Complimentary lecture tickets will be available at the Richardson Library, 900 Civic Center Dr., beginning September 2. See www.onebook.cor.net for more information.

September 26-28: FenCon science fiction and fantasy convention; at Crowne Plaza Dallas, 14315 Midway Road, Addison, Texas. Writing workshop (now filled), panels and author appearances. The con also includes a young authors’ short story contest, open to students in grades 3-12 as of the 2013-2014 school year. The contest is free but the entry deadline is September 10, so start writing now! See www.fencon.org/youngauthor.html for details. For general information, see www.fencon.org/.

October 10-11: North Texas Book & Paper Show, Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 South Main Street, Grapevine. Admission $5 for adults, free for ages 12 and under. Rare and collectible books, autographs, maps, ephemera. See
www.texasbooksellers.org/north-texas-book-paper-show for details.

October 21: Dallas Heritage Village partners with the Dallas Historical Society to present the Farina Lecture Series at the Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas. Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by speaker Victoria Wilcox, author of Southern Son: The Saga of Doc Holliday (Book Two). Free. Register through events calendar at www.dallasheritagevillage.org/.

October 25-26: Texas Book Festival, Austin. All right, it’s not in North Texas, but it’s the big one! Events at the Texas State Capitol, Congress and 11^th Streets. Author lineup available the evening of September 10 at www.texasbookfestival.org/.

October 30: Literature + Medicine Conference, Fogelson Forum at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, 8300Walnut Lane, Dallas, 6-8 p.m. Free conference includes speaker Michael A. LaCombe, reception, and writing contest. Contest deadline is October 1, for essays, poems or short stories about healthcare experiences, including experiences as a patient. See www.texashealthcareconnect.us/LitMed for information and contest details.

November 7-9: Readers & Ritas conference, Hilton Garden Inn Allen, 705 Central Expressway. Dozens of romance authors, discussions, books for sale and trade. Registration at
www.eventbrite.com/2014-readers-ritas-registration-9231211803/.

(Next Monday, better dialogue in our fiction)

Wordcraft -- Feast of book fests

While writing round-up posts last year about writing conferences, I also found many conferences geared to readers and fans. And since writers are also readers, I’m dedicating this first Wordcraft post of 2013 to events for readers. Most are in North Texas, but some are further afield within the state. Since this is only a sampling, feel free to add your own favorites.

January 17 - June 4 -- Arts and Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of Art. Presentations by authors, actors, illustrators, musicians and more. Speakers include former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout (Olive Ketteridge), Booker Prize winner Margaret Atwood, and scientist Temple Grandin. Locations vary. See http://dallasmuseumofart.org/.

February 15-17 -- ConDFW XII, literary science fiction and fantasy event, Crowne Plaza Dallas, 14315 Midway Road, in Dallas suburb of Addison. Panels, readings and author signings. Also includes short story contest, with entries due January 27. For details, see www.condfw.org/.

February 21 -- Highland Park Literary Festival. At its heart are the workshops for Highland Park High School students, but keynote address by author Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) is free and open to the public. Highland Park High School, 4220 Emerson, University Park. See www.hplitfest.org/.

March 20-23 -- SMU LitFest -- Southern Methodist University’s revived literary festival, on the Dallas campus. A schedule of individual events will be posted later in January at http://smulitfest.wordpress.com.

April -- The Big Read Dallas -- series of events based on the late Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, although the April 19 reading at the Dallas Museum of Art is sold out. For updates on events, see http://bigreaddallas.org/.

August 29-September 2 -- World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon). It’s in Texas this year, at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, 200 East Market St. It’s been in Melbourne, Yokahama, and Glasgow. This year, it’s in our state! Worldcon is where reader-favorite Hugo Awards for best science fiction and fantasy are presented each year. Hugo nominations are open through March 10. See
www.lonestarcon3.org/.

September -- Richardson Reads One Book, Richardson High School, 1250 West Beltline Road, Richardson. Speaker and date TBA. For updates, check www.cor.net/ .

October 4-6 -- FenCon X, a conference for fans of science fiction/fantasy/horror, Crowne Plaza Dallas, 14315 Midway Road (Dallas suburb of Addison). I’ll discuss the writing workshop and short story contest in more detail in next Monday’s roundup of writing conferences. Also see the link on its site for related conferences, including comics, www.fencon.org/.

October 24-26 -- National Black Book Festival, Fallbrook Church, 12512 Walters Rd., Houston. Hundreds of authors, free to the public. See www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/.

October 26-27 -- Texas Book Festival -- the big one! Free to the public, at the Texas state capitol, 1200 Congress, Austin. More than 200 Texas and nationally-known authors, with readings, discussions, book signings, and music. See
www.texasbookfestival.org/.

November 8-10 -- Readers & ‘ritas conference for romance authors and readers. Site TBA. See http://2013readers.eventbrite.com/.