Texas Poetry Calendar contributors to read in Austin Dec. 5

On Sat., Dec. 5, 2015, Dos Gatos Press editors Wade Martin and Allyson Whipple will host the last reading of the year from Texas Poetry Calendar contributors, 3:00 p.m., at Malvern Books in Austin.

Always the press’s biggest reading of the year, it features a lineup of poets from around the state: Ralph Hausser, Jerry Hamby, Cheney Crow, Katherine Oldmixon, Mary Lynn Stafford, Stan Crawford, Marcelle Kasprowicz, Joanne Holladay, Tina Posner, Beth Honeycutt, Christa Pandey, Shubh Schiesser, Lyman Grant, Julieta Corpus, Sarah Webb, Cindy Huyser, Ben Groner, Laura Pena, Amy Greenspan, and Diana Conces. The editors extend an invitation to join them for a dinner at nearby Trudy’s (409 W. 30th) following the reading (RSVP Wade at wade.martinii@gmail.com).

Martin and Whipple have done hosting previous readings in 2015 at Houston’s Blue Willow Bookshop, the Georgetown Poetry Festival, and the Dallas Poets Community at Half-Price Books (a reading scheduled for The Twig in San Antonio was canceled due to extreme weather conditions). For more information: www.dosgatospress.org.

(From the organization’s posting)

2015 Texas Book Festival in Pictures

According to our friends at the Texas Book Festival:

There is nothing we like more than seeing all the people that made the 2015 Festival a success. Smiling children receiving books during Reading Rock Stars, Gala attendees in their finery, thousands of readers filling Congress Avenue, and authors keeping the literary conversation going late into the night with Lit Crawl. These are the images that will keep us going through the year until we see you again."  Check out the Festival photos!

(From organization's email bulletin and website)

Writers’ League of Texas offers group write-ins throughout November

Whether you are doing NaNoWriMo or just need a kick in the pants to finally finish that draft, this is the opportunity for you. One ticket for $25 gets you admittance to all write-in sessions. Come to as many as you need and stay as long as you can. There are 15 different sessions at three different locations.

Each session will provide quiet, chairs, tables, and fellow understanding writers. (WLT staff may even surprise you with complimentary coffee on occasion.) A WLT staff person or volunteer will be present at each one, but there will be no planned instruction, no speeches, no exercises — just quiet time to work!

There are still seats available for this momth's remaining events; feel free to show up and register at the door. If you have questions, please call the Writers’ League of Texas at 512-499-8914.

ACC Highland Campus

Rm. 2219, 6101 Airport Blvd., Austin TX 78752

• Mon., Nov. 23, 6:00-9:00 pm
• Mon., Nov. 30, 6:00-9:00 pm

(Information from the Writers’ League of Texas)

Sachse Public Library offers NaNoWriMo opportunities

That recurring dream of walking across the stage and accepting the National Book Award for the novel you wrote in just one month could actually happen, says Sachse Library manager Mignon Morse. “It’s possible,” she said. “There just may be that exceptional writer out there.”

The Sachse Public Library is participating in the National Novel Writing Month campaign, providing support, guidance, inspiration, and motivation to local writers and non-writers who participate in the unique program. The month-long campaign, known as NaNoWriMo, encourages would-be novelists to start writing their novel on Nov. 1 and complete their 50,000 words manuscript by midnight, Nov. 30.

“We’ll be offering support in several ways,” said Morse. “In addition to being their principal cheerleaders, we will also offer some specific assistance in the way of speakers and workshops. And, of course, we are always available as the perfect place to write.”

The library is located on the grounds of the Sachse Municipal Complex, 3815 Sachse Road, Building C, adjacent to Sachse City Hall. Directions can be obtained by calling 972-530-8966 or by visiting www.cityofsachse.com/library.

Last year, the NaNoWriMo program attracted over 325,000 participants worldwide who started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle-school English teachers and walked away novelists.

Over 250 NaNoWriMo novels have been traditionally published. They include Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, Hugh Howey’s Wool, Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, Jason Hough’s The Darwin Elevator, and Marissa Meyer’s Cinder.

That recurring dream may finally come true. Now comes the question, what will you wear?

Events to come:

November 23, at 6 pm: Library Program Room open to those who would like to have some time to brain storming with fellow writers or just a new space to be able to write. (Please bring your own electronic device for writing.)

November 30, at 6 pm: Library Program Room open to those who would like to have some time to brain storming with fellow writers or just a new space to be able to write to have that final push to finish your story by 11:59 pm. (Please bring your own electronic device for writing.)

(Information from organization's press release)