The Texas Book Festival features more than 150 authors : Each year more than 150 authors descend upon Austin, Texas, a town that already boasts quite a literary community. Regulars at the Texas Book Festival include Texas authors such as Sandra Cisneros, Kinky Friedman, and Marion Winik. Jane Smiley, Salman Rushdie, Lemony Snicket, and James Hynes have also participated.
Panels of interest to fiction writers: Though many panels at the Texas Book Festival focus on journalism, some always focus on the concerns of fiction writers. Past topics have included "From the Ground Up: Sense of Place in Fiction"; "Found in Translation: Writers and Their Translators"; "Seriously Funny"; and "On Edge: Literary Thrillers."
Includes a book fair: Check out Texas presses and organizations such as Texas A&M Press Consortium, University of Texas Press, Writer's League of Texas, and Sisters in Crime. Some national presses, such as Scholastic Books, are also present. Most of the presses publish regional books or nonfiction, but the writers' leagues will be of interest to fiction writers.
Most Texas Book Festival events are free: With a few exceptions, most readings, panels, and speaking events are free and open to the public.
All proceeds go to the Texas libraries: Proceeds from book sales and from events such as the literary gala go to Texas libraries, which rank 45th in the nation in terms of funding.
Special focus on children's books and nonfiction: In addition to a focus on fiction for adults, the Texas Book Festival gives special emphasis to children's books and journalism. Poetry is featured to a lesser extent.
