TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL

The Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination.

The Texas Book Festival (TBF) began with a simple purpose: to bring authors and readers together in a celebration of literature and literacy. Founded in 1995 by Laura Bush (a former librarian and then First Lady of Texas), Mary Margaret Farabee, and a dedicated group of volunteers, the TBF set out to honor Texas authors, promote the joys of reading, and benefit the state’s public libraries. The first Festival took place in November 1996 and has grown into one of the nation’s premier annual literary events, featuring 275+ authors of the year’s best books and drawing more than 40,000 book lovers of all ages.

Held each fall in and around the majestic State Capitol in downtown Austin, the Festival features a rich variety of literary readings and panels, book signings, cooking demonstrations, live music, local food trucks, a YA HQ, children’s activities, and exhibiting vendors from across the state and country. While remaining an important showcase for Texas authors, the Texas Book Festival hosts writers from all over the world and is honored to have a national reputation as one of the most prestigious and longest running book festivals in the country.

More than 50 volunteer committee chairs and 1000 volunteers help run the annual Festival, the First Edition Literary Gala, and our literary and literacy events throughout the year and across the state. The TBF partners with other nonprofits, cultural organizations, corporations, schools and individuals to present quality programming to Texans. The Texas Book Festival, a Texas nonprofit corporation, is a 501(c) (3) organization. Since its founding, the TBF has donated more than $2.8 million to Texas public libraries and donated more than 72,000 books to students in Title I schools through our Reading Rock Stars program.

The TBF is proud to present the Festival free of charge, thanks to the generous support of corporate sponsors, foundations, and individuals who believe in the power of reading to change lives.

¡AHORA SÍ! TENT AT TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL

¡Ahora Sí!, the Austin American-Statesman’s Spanish language newspaper, is dedicated to bilingual programming and Latin@ culture. From in-depth literary discussions to children’s storytimes; a close examination at issues of education and voter turn-out; a celebration of Tejana art; and more, the tent will be busy all weekend with engaging authors and conversations.

The ¡Ahora Sí! Tent is located in the center of the Festival, at the intersection of Congress and 11th Street, right next to the C-Span2/Book TV Tent.

Schedule

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

10:00 AM- Bilingual Storytime with 
 RENE COLATO LAINEZ


10:30 AM- Writing the Distance,  REYNA GRANDE and RENE COLATO LAINEZ


11:30 AM- Bilingual Storytime with DUNCAN TONATIUH

12:00 PM- Bilingual Storytime with YUYI MORALES

12:45 AM- New Literature from Latin America,
 EDUARDO RABASA, ANDRES NEUMAN,
MAURO JAVIER CARDENAS and ANTONIO RUIZ-CAMACHO




1:45 PM- Behind the Scenes of Tacos in Texas, MANDO RAYO and JAROD NEECE

2:30 PM-  Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, DUNCAN TONATIUH and ASHLEY HOPE PEREZ

3:30 PM- Gran Éxito, DIANE GUERRERO and JULISSA ARCE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

11:00 AM- I-DJ Performance, GREG BARRIOS and Ben Olguin

12:00 PM- Entre Guadalupe y Malinche: Tejanas in Literature and Art,  INES HERNANDES-AVILA, NORMA ELIA CANTU, ROSEMARY CATACALOS and CARMEN TAFOLLA

1:00 PM- RAZA RISING: Chicano Empowerment Through Education and the Vote, 
RICHARD GONZALES and GREGG BARRIOS

2:30 PM- Middle Grade Magic and Mystery
, DIANA LOPEZ and RENE SALDANA, JR.