We got nothing out of Clay, except that he has about half of the authors lined up. Clay works hard to bring both big named authors and upcoming authors to the Festival. In addition to phone calls, emails, in person talks, he spends about a month in New York every year talking to agents and editors and authors.
If you live in Texas or plan a trip to Austin, put October 16 and 17 on your calendar. This will be the 15th year for the Texas Book Festival. It’s held on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol, the streets surrounding the capitol and in nearby venues. Since 1995, the Festival has contributed more than $2.5 million in grants to Texas public libraries.
In case you’re wondering what it costs for you to spend the weekend with 200 authors, the answer is nothing. It’s free to the public.
If you live nearby or are coming, consider volunteering a couple of hours. Running the Festival takes over a thousand volunteers who can go online and pick what they’d like to do and when. The volunteer needs will go online probably next month, so keep an eye on the Texas Book Festival site. (And look for the Austin Museum of Art - the venue that I chair. I’ll be submitting my time slots and number of volunteers I’ll need.)
Sounds like a wonderful event, wish I could be there. The fact that there are both big named authors and upcoming authors says good things about the group.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
Sounds brilliant. I was in your neck of the woods, I'd be there in a second!
ReplyDeletePerhaps Clay would like to invite an up and coming writer from Botswana....hmmmm... just an idea! :)I am a big fan of book fairs, am sorting out the details for attending the Cape Town Book Fair in South Africa, which has been pushed to August by the World Cup.
ReplyDeleteSounds like quite an event!
ReplyDeleteI remember your description from the floor of the event last year! It is fun hearing about the set-up. Alas, alack - October is the busy time for us mystery weekend producers. Everyone wants us near or on Halloween. very scary.
ReplyDeleteThat would be so much fun, Lauri!
ReplyDeleteJan, it's great to be wanted!
I'll certainly try to plan for it. I'm overdue for a Gal Pal Road Trip.
ReplyDeleteJP
http://madameperryssalon.blogspot.com
I wish I could be in Texas in October. It sounds like a great time and worthy cause.
ReplyDeleteIt is a worthy cause, Susan. And a huge event.
ReplyDeleteHope you'll be able to come, JP.
If I didn't live so far away, I'd say please pass along my info to Clay as a potential invite!!!
ReplyDeleteThat and I already have a book festival scheduled that weekend.
I knew Texas was a friendly place! What a wonderful event! I wish I was there to enjoy it! But I KNOW you'll let us all know EVERYTHING when it finally is here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Diane, check the website and you'll see instructions on how to have your publisher or publicist submit your books for consideration for next year (the deadline has passed for this year).
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, I'll let you know what goes on at the Austin Museum of Art. Can't tell you about everything else since I show up at AMOA about two hours before things get underway and I leave after clean up, both days.
Congratulations! Well deserved, Helen. I'll give you a gravy award to complete your meal >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
Sorry, commented on the wrong post, hehe. Never mind ... I've done worse mistakes that that >:))
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven