Harrigan leads off Highland Park's 2016 Authors Live! series Feb. 4


One of the state’s leading and ongoing annual literary series, Authors Live! debuts Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Highland Park United Methodist Church with Texas author Stephen Harrigan presenting his book A Friend of Mr. Lincoln: A Novel.

According to a starred review in Publishers Weekly, "Bestselling author Harrigan’s 10th book, after 2011’s Remember Ben Clayton, is superb historical fiction focusing on the period 1832–1861, from Lincoln’s early years as a tireless circuit-riding lawyer and Illinois state legislator to his election as the 16th president, . . .Harrigan’s standout novel shows the endurance of friendship, and historical fans will find much to savor."

For those who are interested in meeting and talking with the author, and having a signed copy of the book, there is a reception preceding the main presentation and includes the price of the book ($30). The 6:00 p.m. reservation-only author reception is $30 and includes a signed and personalized copy of the book. Call 214-523-2240 for your reservation at least 3 days before the event, please. You may pay at the door by cash or check. The 7 p.m. talk is free and open to the public.

The Authors Live! series presents nationally known, award-winning and best-selling authors sharing their newly published fiction and non-fiction works. Presented in partnership with Friends of the Highland Park Library and Friends of the SMU Library, these presentations are offered free to the whole community. No reservations are required. A book signing follows the presentation for those who choose to purchase books.

Here is the Authors Live! 2016 Season:

  • Thursday, Feb 4: Stephen Harrigan, A Friend of Mr. Lincoln's, 7 p.m. (fiction)
  • Wednesday, Feb 10: Dawn Tripp, Georgia, 7:30 p.m. (fiction about Georgia O’Keeffe)
  • Monday, March 14: A. O. (Tony) Scott, Better Living Through Criticism, 7 p.m. (non-fiction)
  • Tuesday, March 29: Jacquelyn Mitchard, Two If by Sea, 7 p.m. (fiction)
  • Monday, May 9: Clint Hill, My Travels with Five Presidents: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford, 7 p.m. (non-fiction)

For more information, visit Authors Live! on the web.

Highland Park United Methodist Church, Wesley Hall

3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas TX 75205

Co-Sponsors: The Friends of the Highland Park Public Library, The Friends of the SMU Libraries, and Highland Park United Methodist Church.

University of Houston Libraries exhibition celebrates contributions of Arte Público Press


A retrospective exhibit slated for Jan. 18 through June 30, 2016, “Encounters and Discoveries in Literature: Celebrating Arte Público Press and Twentieth Century Latina/o Literature,” examines the press and its place in the larger context of Latina/o literature in the twentieth century. Founded in 1979, Arte Público paved the way for numerous celebrated authors, including Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Sandra Cisneros, Rolando Hinojosa, Graciela Limón, Américo Paredes, and Tomás Rivera, while also recovering early unpublished works by Latinos and leading the way for inclusive children’s literature.

Materials in the exhibit will include books, archival documents, photographs, and works of art produced or recovered by Arte Público Press, its imprint, Piñata Books, and its program, Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project. Beyond a mere presentation of objects and literary works, the contents of the exhibit explore the Latina/o experience and the societal conditions documented in the press’s publications.

For more information, contact Lisa Cruces at ccruces@uh.edu or 713-743-9903.

(From organization’s press release and website)


Lone Star Literary Life to introduce new features, crowdfunding in celebration of first anniversary Feb. 2

On February 2, 2015, Lone Star Literary Life published its first issue of Texas's only comprehensive statewide books-news coverage. We launched on Groundhog Day with a robust subscriber list of Texas booksellers, publishers, libraries, authors, and, most important of all, readers.

We pledged to deliver thoughtful reviews of new Texas books, first-person profiles and interviews of Texas authors, news and coverage of awards, festivals, and author tours, and the state's only full calendar of book events — every week. And we've done so for almost 52 weeks now, bringing readers, writers, publishers, publicists, and librarians the latest in bookish Texas news and information.

We're supported by advertising, providing a guaranteed vehicle to promote Texas-related books. And in our first year, we introduced such popular features as Lone Star Book Blog Tours, author podcasts, and Top Texas Bookish Destinations, which present editorial content around which publishers, booksellers, and authors can build paid campaigns.

We've got even bigger plans in store for 2016. Stay tuned over the next few weeks. And watch for details on our Indiegogo campaign — to learn how you can help Lone Star Lit grow and also earn unique perks.

Make a note of our hashtags: #LoneStarLit2016 #ComeAndFundIt

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Caprock Writers Alliance launches new year of monthly programs with food writer LaRue

LUBBOCK—Angelina LaRue, author of the Whole Enchilada Cookbook and food columnist for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Idalou Beacon, will be the featured speaker for this month’s Caprock Writers’ Alliance Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room of the Mahon Library, 1306 9th St, Lubbock, TX 79401.


If you have a shoebox of cherished family recipes and always dreamed of doing something with them, come meet Angelina and find out how she did it. Her new book, The Whole Enchilada, was published by Pelican Publishing, one of the South’s leading independent publishers.

LaRue will discuss her path to publishing, including what inspired her to write the cookbook, how she put the book together, and how she was successful in attracting a publisher to the project.

 Here’s just a sampling of the praise for LaRue’s cookbook:

  • “Angelina’s spicy dishes just tickle me pink—fun and easy to cook, with fresh ingredients and a healthy heaping of chili peppers. Pass some more of those corn tortillas, please!”—Paula Deen
  • “An exciting and nutritious approach to Southwestern cuisine.” —Tom Perini, owner of Perini Ranch Steakhouse and author of Texas Cowboy Cooking
  • “This book is a must for your cookbook library. It’s obvious that Angelina has a passion for Southwestern cuisine. Her recipes are authentic, fresh, and party-friendly—perfect for your next casual get-together.”—Annette Joseph, Today Show guest and author of Picture Perfect Parties
  • “The recipes Angelina has created are simple, fresh, stunningly beautiful and nutritious. She has poured her heart and soul into her first cookbook. Her love for food shines through in each page. I look forward to many nights around the table, enjoying dinner prepared out of The Whole Enchilada.” —Tara Royer Steele, The Pie Queen, owner of Royers Round Top Café and Royers Pie Haven

In addition to a brief talk, LaRue will read from her book, and the CWA will host a signing for her book as well. You may purchase her book and get it signed after the meeting.

For more information, contact the CWA at CaprockWriters@gmail.com or call 806-773-5445.


ConDFW XV slated for Feb. 12–14

ConDFW XV is set for February 12–14, 2016 at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, 5410 LBJ Freeway.

A literary-focused science fiction convention held annually since 2002, sponsored by the Texas Speculative Fiction Association (TSFA), ConDFW is produced by a team of volunteers.

The TSFA is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization informally organized in 2001 dedicated to promoting the advancement of education with emphasis on sci-fi/fantasy/horror literature, publishing and writing, and science. ConDFW is the group’s annual event bringing in speakers in the fields of science fiction, horror and fantasy literature, hard science, art, and more.

ConDFW and TSFA are open to all, and membership dues are paid annually.

Some of the events of the convention includes writing/publishing based programming, science programming, a collection of guests, art show, a charity book swap and auction, and a non-traditional activities such as the Sci-Fi Spelling Bee.

For information and registration, visit www.condfw.org

2016 ConDFW Panelists

Paul Abell

Rachael Acks

C. Dean Andersson

Larry Atchley, Jr.

Julie Barrett

Paul Black

Karen Bogen

Jeremy Brett

Patricia Burroughs

Lillian Stewart Carl

J. Kathleen Cheney

Dantzel Cherry

R. Cat Conrad

Bill Crider

Scott Cupp

Cushing Memorial Library – Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection

Jeff Dawson

Aaron de Orive

Peggy Dee-Haslbauer

John Delaughter

Chris Donahue

Linda Donahue

David Doub

Carole Nelson Douglas

P.N. Elrod

Rhonda Eudaly

Mark Finn

Michael Ashleigh Finn

Melanie Fletcher

Mary Gearhart-Gray

David L. Gray

T.M. Hunter

K. Hutson

William Ledbetter

Stina Leicht

Julia S. Mandala

Marshall Ryan Maresca

Frances May

Ava Morgan

Michelle Muenzler

Melia Newman

Gloria Oliver

Stephen Patrick

Teresa Patterson

Rie Sheridan Rose

Stephen Sanders

Katherine Sanger

Patrice Sarath

Lawrence M. Schoen

Shonuff! Studio

Adrian Simmons

Bradley H. Sinor

Sue Sinor

Amy Sisson

Sabine Starr

Shanna Swendson

S. Boyd Taylor

Tex Thompson

Kerry Tolan

Katherine Turski

Martha Wells

Mel White

Barbara Ann Wright

Compiled from ConDFW website

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