ConDFW set for Feb. 10-12 in Fort Worth
At the annual literary science fiction and fantasy convention, attendees can mingle with author and artist guests, attend panel discussions and readings led by guest authors, get books signed, look at and shop in a dealer's room with books, art, games, clothing, weapons, and other items, donate used books to charity (and get some others in return), play games (both tabletop and live-action), or just hang out and talk to guests and attendees.
ConDFW is a production of the Texas Speculative Fiction Association.
(Information from organization’s website)
Texas Book Festival announces dates for 2017 weekend; submissions open Jan. 9
“We are thrilled with the success of the Texas Book Festival and all our programs,” says Lois Kim, executive director of the Festival. “We are excited for 2017 and look forward to sharing our upcoming plans for unforgettable and impactful Festival experiences.”
Book lovers can expect to see more of what 2016 offered during this year’s Festival Weekend – a great author lineup, book signings, food trucks, cooking demonstrations, author sessions and panels, live music, a Saturday night Lit Crawl, and more.
Submissions to participate in the 2017 Festival will open on January 9. For book submission guidelines, please visit http://txbookfest. wpengine.com/submit-book/. Visit www.texasbookfestival.org for more information.
(Information from organization’s press release)
Lone Star Literary Life's GO Calendar updated with 2017 conference and festival dates
As soon as organizers return to their desks after the start of each new year, annual book events start populating their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds with dates readers and writers are eager to mark on their own calendars.
We’ve saved you some of the work — compiling a list of key recurring events in the state by month, along with locations and precise dates as soon as we learn them. This week alone, we've added and updated more than a dozen. Check them out at LoneStarLiterary.com/Go, and bookmark the calendar for use in planning your travel, book promotions, and visits to more than 100 readings and events each week, statewide.
Pulpwood Queen's Girlfriend Weekend wraps up Jan. 15 in Nacogdoches
The annual Pulpwood Queen’s Girlfriend Weekendreturns to Nacogdoches January 12–15, 2017, with the theme "Diamonds Are a Gir;s Best Friend."
For more information contact thepulpwoodqueen@gmail.com, (903) 769-3400.
Writers Resist events slated for Jan. 15, 2017, grow to five Texas cities
Writers Resist, a literary collective born of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election that publishes creative expressions of resistance by diverse writers and artists, has prompted the grass-roots organization of events around the nation. If you have information about a #WritersResist event not listed here, please email us and we’ll add and promote it.
The idea of poet and cofounder of VIDA Erin Belieu, Writers Resist aims to create events in support of democracy across the country and internationally on January 15, 2017. Belieu, along with several other organizers, are planning with local groups to hold events using the framework “Writers Resist:___.” This will allow the local group to focus the event on a specific theme pertinent to the social justice issue(s) they would like to highlight.
According to the organization’s event guidelines, “Writers Resist is not affiliated with a political party. We wish to bypass direct political discourse in favor of an inspired focus on the future, and how we, as writers, can be a unifying force for the protection of Democracy. In order for us to heal and move forward, individually and as a nation, we believe people need something to be for in this anxious moment. The only thing we ‘resist’ is that which attacks or seeks to undermine those most basic principles of freedom and justice for all.”
The flagship Writers Resist event, co-sponsored by PEN America, is being held on January 15, 2017, in New York City. Prominent writers, including American poet laureates Robert Pinsky and Rita Dove, will gather on the steps of the New York Public Library to “re-inaugurate” their commitment to the fundamental principles of democracy.
Events in Texas to date include:
Austin
Sun., Jan. 15, 6 pm
BookPeople
Austin #WritersResist A Counter-Inauguration: readings with Sarah Bird, Elizabeth McCracken, Cyrus Cassells, Sasha West, Tammy Gomez, Chaitali Sen and many more including surprise guests
Malvern Books: National Poets Protest Against Trump – Austin, Texas, Jan. 15 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
On January 15th poets across the country will gather to voice their fears and concerns about a Trump Presidency. Join us at Malvern Books for the Austin event, organized by Justin Booth in association with the Chicon Street Poets.
Dallas
Bishop Arts Theatre Center, DFW #WritersResist readings, 7PM
El Paso
El Paso Public Library - Main, El Paso #WritersResist readings, 2PM
Houston
Sun., Jan. 15, 5:00-8:00 pm
Holocaust Museum Houston, Tintero Projects' "We Too Sing America" #WritersResist readings with 70+ Houston poets and writers, 5PM
Co-sponsors: Calypso Editions and Librotraficante
Fri., Jan. 20, 7 PM
St. Paul's United Methodist, Tintero Projects presents #WritersResist/Houston: "Let Us Gather" with more than 70 Houston poets and writers of diverse backgrounds
San Antonio
Sun., Jan. 15, 2017, 1:00 pm
Alamo Brewery, 415 Burnet St., San Antonio, Texas 78202
Call for info: (210) 734-9673
Barnes & Noble Launches Seventh Annual
“My Favorite Teacher Contest”
Hundreds of Stores Nationwide to Honor Local Winners
Retail bookseller Barnes & Noble has announced the start of the 2017 “Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest,” which for the past seven years has provided middle and high school students the opportunity to tell their communities how much they appreciate their teachers.
Students can nominate their teacher by writing essays, poems, or thank-you letters that share how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire them. Participating schools collect the essays and submit them to their local Barnes & Noble store, for consideration. Entries are judged on the compelling nature of the teacher’s inspiring qualities, the sincerity of the student’s appreciation and the quality of expression and writing.
The local winning teacher will be recognized in spring 2017 at an event held at Barnes & Noble, where they will receive a special award acknowledging their achievement as well as additional recognition and praise from their community. The student who wrote the winning essay or poem will receive a certificate of recognition and will also be honored at the ceremony.
Teachers from grades 1 through 12 are eligible for nomination. Awards for winning teachers, schools and students include cash prizes, NOOK® devices and more. The contest is broken down into local and regional winners, from which the “Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year” will be chosen.
Each regional winner will receive a $500 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and a NOOK by Samsung device. From the pool of regional winners, Barnes & Noble will name one teacher the “Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year.” The winning teacher will receive $5,000 and the title of “Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year.” The national winner will be recognized at a special community celebration at their local Barnes & Noble store, and the winning teacher’s school will receive $5,000. The student who writes the national winning essay, poem or thank-you letter will win a $500 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and a NOOK.
The Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher Contest submission period begins January 4, 2017, and ends March 1, 2017. Students who want to participate must submit their essay or poem to Barnes & Noble by March 1. Only middle and high school students and active teachers employed in elementary, middle or high schools in the United States are eligible to win. More details on the contest rules, and photos and the winning essay from the 2016 Contest, can be found at www.bn.com/myfavoriteteacher.
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