Authors Include the Second Man on the Moon, a Pulitzer Prize-Winner, a Food Network TV Celebrity
Today, Former First Lady Laura Bush announced the authors and revealed the poster art for the 2009 Texas Book Festival, which will take place on October 31 and November 1 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Mrs. Bush, the honorary chair and founder of the Texas Book Festival (TBF), made the announcement at her home during a reception for the organization's supporters. Headlining authors include Buzz Aldrin, Margaret Atwood, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Bryan Burrough, Jeanette Walls, Jonathan Safran Foer, and Taylor Branch.
The TBF is pleased to honor best selling children's writer and San Antonio resident, Rick Riordan with the Bookend Award for his Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, concluded this year with Volume 5, The Last Olympian. The Bookend Award is given to a Texas writer for his or her ongoing and outstanding literary achievement. Past recipients include Cormac McCarthy, Sandra Cisneros, and Horton Foote, among others. Others topping the list of children's authors are Jon Scieszka, Rosemary Wells, Libba Bray, and Judy Schachner. The poster image for the Festival is a photograph, White Owl 2004, by the internationally known, award-winning artist Keith Carter. The full list of Festival authors and poster art is available on www.texasbookfestival.org.
The Texas Book Festival is an organization that has made more than $2.3 million in grants to public libraries since the organization was formed in 1995. In addition, more than 30,000 children in low-income schools have benefited from its literary program, Reading Rock Stars. The two-day Festival is entirely open and free to the public. "The Texas Book Festival is a Texas treasure and one of the premier literary events in the country," said Heidi Marquez Smith, executive director of the Texas Book Festival. This year's list of 210 participating writers reflects the best books in categories ranging from literary fiction to lifestyle titles such as travel and cookbooks. There will be panel conversations mixing the industry's top writers with audience question and answer sessions during every event. In addition, Festival attendees can get their books signed by authors, feast on food from a wide-range of top local eateries, inspire their children with educational author events and activities as well as enjoy live musical entertainment.
Incredible writers such as Sandra Brown, Oscar Casares, Kurt Eichenwald, Blake Bailey, Colson Whitehead, David Wroblewski, and Amanda Eyre Ward will appear at this year's Festival. Other prominent authors attending are Luis Alberto Urrea, Jane Smiley, Harold Evans, Kati Marton, Julia Glass, Gail Collins, and Harold Kushner.
News and political junkies will enjoy Douglas Brinkley, Howard Campbell, Bryan Carlile, and Dave Cullen. Cooking enthusiasts will be inspired by authors Rebecca Rather, Lidia Bastianich, Ellie Krieger, and Guiliano Hazan, who will be demonstrating their skills and talking about their new cookbooks. Lovers of all things Texan will be drawn to Jane Clements Monday, Gary Clark, Wyatt McSpadden, and Michael Marvins. Dr. Cara Natterson and Po Bronson dispense current views on child-rearing, while Katherine Brooks helps those looking to map their career. Hollywood enthusiasts can hear from three Texans who made it big working in the City of Angels: Robert Hinkle, Billy Taylor, and Gary Kent.
Approximately 1500 books were considered, and those chosen are the preeminent titles of 2009. "This is a very literary year in publishing," said Clay Smith, literary director of the Texas Book Festival. "For example, four authors have amazing literary biographies and we are thrilled to have all of them in one panel at the Festival." Book lovers travel from across the country year after year to witness and participate in the extraordinary discussions that are borne from the collaboration of these brilliant authors.
About the Texas Book Festival:
Founded in 1995 by Laura Bush and a group of interested volunteers, the Texas Book Festival (TBF) is held every year on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. It features readings and discussions from more than 200 of the most accomplished Texas and national authors. With the help of the Austin community, a statewide advisory committee and more than 900 volunteers, the organization has grown each year. In addition to being one of the most prestigious literary festivals in the nation, the TBF develops and manages year-round programs that foster literacy statewide.
TBF Facts:
- has surpassed the $2.3 million mark in total grant awards to Texas public libraries since its inception through its Library Grant program
- has reached more than 30,000 children in economically disadvantaged Central and South Texas Schools, providing for many the first book they've ever owned through its Reading Rock Stars program
- with the University Interscholastic League sponsors a Middle and High School Fiction writing contest
- entertains and informs approximately 35,000 festival attendees, adults and children alike, free of cost, with engaging author events, local foods and music
- Sponsors include: Austin American-Statesman, AT &T, Barnes & Noble, Brigid Cockrum & Family, Central Market , HEB, KLBJ-AM/KGSR-FM, KLRU, KUT 90.5, The Meadows Foundation, Texas Monthly, Republic National Distributing Company, Pearson Education, Sibley Peteet Design, and T.L.L. Temple Foundation
Source: Texas Book Festival
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