Bookish Texas • Events Around the State
The most comprehensive listing of book and author events, festivals, readings, lectures, and signings in the Lone Star State
Don't see your book or literary event here? Email Events@lonestarliterary.com with your complete info two weeks in advance of the issue in which your event is scheduled, and we'll include it.
Bookish goings-on in Texas
compiled exclusively for Lone Star Literary Life
FOR THE WEEK OF 04.28.2019
Special Events:
Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center presents Once Upon a Rhyme WonderWeek, Sugar Land, April 26-May 2
Children's Book Week, nationally, April 29-May 5
El día de los niños, El día de los libros, nationally, April 30
Collab Conference for Writer's, Waco, May 1-3
25th annual A Celebration of Reading, Houston, May 2
Fan Expo Dallas, May 3-5
Texas Frightmare Weekend, Irving, May 3-5
Storysmith Spring 2019 Writing Conference, McKinney, May 4
Free Comic Book Day, internationally, May 4
Winnsboro Festival of Books, May 4
Houston Book Show, May 4-5
Austin Bookstars Signing Event, May 4-5
Exhibits:
Our People: The Life and Works of Author Angela Shelf Medearis, Austin, February 2-June 22
Worlds of W O N D E R: David Ezra Stein, Abilene, February 14-May 18
Words/Matter: Latin American Art and Language at the Blanton, Austin, February 17-May 26
The Word Embodied: Scripture as Creative Inspiration in Twentieth-Century Book Arts, Dallas, March 1-June 15
Texas Writers: a traveling exhibit by Humanities Texas, San Antonio, April 3-30
SUNDAY, APRIL 28:
Austin
BookWoman, Brooke Axtell reading and signing Beautiful Justice, 4PM
Dallas
B&N - Preston/Royal, Dr. Michael F. Weisberg, M.D. signs In the End and The Hospitalist, 2PM
Deep Vellum Books, Michelle Tea presents Astro Baby, 6PM
Half Price Books Mother Ship, fantasy thriller author Emma Christopher will sell and sign Project Starfall, and self-help author Amy Susanna Copeland will sell and sign Love & The Art of Saying No: A Journey Out of Co-Dependence, People-Pleasing, & Over-Commitment, 1PM
Houston
River Oaks Bookstore, Oh Austen the Hippo children’s reading hour & author signing with April Spotsville, 2PM
Richardson
The Drawing Board, Writing Workshops Dallas: "How to Find Your Plot: A Storytelling Seminar" with J.R. Forasteros, 3PM
San Antonio
The Twig Book Shop, poet John Poch signing Texases, 12PM
MONDAY, APRIL 29:
Austin
BookPeople, ADAM RUBIN speaking & signing High Five! (plus high-five contest & tacos), 4PM
Central Library, Vivien Goldman discussing and signing Revenge of the She-Punks, 7PM
Houston
Blue Willow Bookshop, Delia Owens will discuss and sign WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, 7PM
TUESDAY, APRIL 30:
Abilene
Main Library, El día de los niños, El día de los libros, 6:30PM
Texas Star Trading Co., Chris Christian signing A Grandmother’s Prayer: Moments in a Music Life, 4PM
Arlington
B&N - The Parks, The Lost Boy's Gift book signing with Kimberly Willis Holt, 4PM
Austin
BookPeople, HEATHER B. ARMSTRONG speaking & signing The Valedictorian of Being Dead, 7PM
BookWoman, R.T. Kilgore reading and signing The Historical Chronicles of Elinor Sturgeon and the Last Human Colony, 7PM
Malvern Books, Poets & Scholars Reading: Joshua Edwards, Sarah Matthes, and Danielle Wheeler, 7PM
Spiderhouse Ballroom, Austin Poetry Slam featuring Mr. Dave, 7:15PM
Dallas
Interabang Books, drinks and light bites followed by a Q&A between Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith and Dallas author Ben Fountain on the 2020 campaign and Fountain's latest book, Beautiful Country Burn Again, 7PM
Hyatt Regency Dallas, Women’s Auxiliary of Nexus Recovery Center’s Spring Luncheon: Bestselling novelist and essayist Anne Lamott will talk about her new book, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope, 10:30AM
El Paso
The Black Orchid Lounge, The Barbed Wire Open Mic Series, 8PM
Fort Worth
The Dock Bookshop, Poetry and Open Mic, 8PM
Georgetown
Lark & Owl Booksellers, New York Times best-selling author Delia Owens discussing and signing WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, 7PM [ticketed event]
Houston
Blue Willow Bookshop, Stu Gibbs will discuss and sign SPY SCHOOL BRITISH INVASION, 5PM
The Menil Collection, Da Camera presents Ashberyana: A Musical Celebration of Poet John Ashbery, 7:30PM
Kerrville
Shreiner University, Mike Marvins discussing and signing The Texas Hill Country: A Photographic Adventure, 6:30PM
San Antonio
Igo Library, Barbara Ortwein will discuss her 3 historical novels about the German settlements in the Texas Hill Country, 2:30PM
The Mix, PuroSlam with DJ Donnie Dee, 9:30PM
The Twig Book Shop, Ron Franscell discussing and signing Alice & Gerald: A Homicidal Love Story, 5PM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1:
Austin
BookPeople, BRIAN PANOWICH speaking & signing Like Lions, 7PM
Bullock Museum, High Noon Talks: Historian and author Gregory Ball will share some of his in-depth study of the Texas Seventh from his book, They Called Them Soldier Boys, 12PM
Malvern Books, St. Edward’s University Poetry II Chapbooks Launch, 7PM
UT, Joynes Reading Room Literary Speaker Series featuring novelist Lance Olsen, 7PM
Dallas
SMU - McFarlin, Dallas Arts & Letters Live present an evening with author David Sedaris, 7:30PM
Half Price Books Mothership, New York Times bestselling nature writer, Delia Owens will discuss and sign her debut novel, Where The Crawdads Sing, 7PM
Frisco
B&N - Stonebriar, The Lost Boy's Gift book signing with Kimberly Willis Holt, 6:30PM
Houston
Avant Garden, Write About Now: Poetry Open Mic + Book Release Show featuring Natasha Carrizosa, 7:30PM
Brazos Bookstore, Erling Kagge discussing and signing WALKING, 7PM
Richardson
UTD, Athenaeum Review Issue 2 Reception, 4PM
San Antonio
Trinity U, launch party for High Noon, a new literary journal, 6:30PM
The Twig Book Shop, Helene Segura discussing and signing The Great Escape: A Vacation Planner for Busy People Who Want to Take a Real Break from Work & Life, 5PM
THURSDAY, MAY 2:
Austin
Bass Concert Hall, an evening with author David Sedaris, 8PM
Benson Latin American Collection, “This is about resistance:” The Feminist Revisions of Alicia Gaspar de Alba, 4PM
BookPeople, CHRIS PERONDI WITH VINNY VALENTINO speaking & signing The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever, 7PM
Conroe
Lone Star College, Walt Whitman Birthday Celebration featuring Steven Herrmann, author of Walt Whitman: Shamanism, 3PM
Lone Star College, The Annual Gathering of Poets Dinner Reading, 5:30PM
Dallas
Deep Vellum Books, Saskia Vogel reading and signing Permission, 7PM
Interabang Books, Martha Hall Kelly reading and signing LOST ROSES, 7PM
The Wild Detectives, World Press Freedom Day: journalism workshop to examine the impact of journalism in society and what can we do to make it better at a local level, 7PM
Fort Worth
Whiskey Ranch, Sip & Skim: TCU Press and Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. present a literary cocktail event featuring Bobbie Wygant, Thomas Zigal, J.W. Wilson, Rob Arnold, and Eric Simanek, 5PM
Frisco
B&N - Stonebriar, Where the Crawdads Sing book signing with Delia Owens, 7PM
Houston
B&N – River Oaks, Gary Sinise signing Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, 10AM
Blue Willow Bookshop, Tiffani Thiessen and Brady Smith on tour for their new picture book, YOU'RE MISSING IT!, 5PM [ticketed event]
Miller Outdoor Theatre, Holocaust Museum Houston presents Coexistence Spoken Word Performance, 11AM
Murder By the Book, Brian Panowich will sign and discuss Like Lions, 6:30PM
Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Iconoclast Artists They Say Vol. 4 Anthology Performance, 7PM
Port Arthur
Museum of the Gulf Coast, Timothy and Brendan McNulty signing The Meanest Man in Congress: Jack Brooks and the Making of an American Century, 5PM [proceeds benefit the museum]
Victoria
UH, American Literary Review Reading Series presents author Joseph Tabbi, 11AM
FRIDAY, MAY 3:
Austin
BookPeople, KIRK GOLDSBERRY speaking & signing Sprawlball, 7PM
The Buzz Mill, Bat City Review Issue 15 Launch Party, 8PM
Malvern Books, Hothouse Literary Journal Release Party, 7PM
UT, Robin W. Doughty discussing and signing Unnatural Texas?: The Invasive Species Dilemma, 4PM
Dallas
B&N - Lincoln Park, Author visit: Chris Perondi and Vinny Valentino of The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever: A Step-by-Step Guide to 118 Amazing Tricks and Stunts, 7PM
Deep Vellum Books, Athenaeum Review Issue 2 Launch Party, 7PM
Fellowship Dallas, Arts & Letters Live presents Melinda Gates discussing her new book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, 7:30PM
Denton
Golden Boy Coffee Co., Spiderweb Open Mic, 6PM
Houston
Blue Willow Bookshop, Joe Kelly and Tim Kelly will discuss American History and sign their books, 5PM
Brazos Bookstore, Jennifer DuBois reading and signing THE SPECTATORS, 7PM
Discovery Green, WITS: Youth Performance Poetry Sessions, 6:30PM
Murder By the Book, James Patterson signing The 18th Abduction, 10AM [ticketed event]
San Antonio
The Twig Book Shop, poet Vanessa Couto Johnson reading and signing pungent dins concentric, 5PM
The Woodlands
B&N - JayBee Ortiz signing The Rose Colored Glasses, 12:30PM
SATURDAY, MAY 4:
Austin
BookPeople, Austin SCBWI Monthly Meeting: The Amazing Idea of Play with author Charlotte Sullivan Wild, 10AM
BookPeople, Authors from AUSTIN BAT CAVE speaking & signing The Austin Bat Cave Anthology, 2PM
BookPeople, DEB GABOR speaking & signing Irrational Loyalty, 5PM
Malvern Books, journalist and author Asher Elbein reading and signing of his new book, Ghost Days, 7PM
St. Edward's U, Writers' League of Texas workshop: "Adapting and Learning From Classic Literary Works" with Jess Hagemann, 10AM
Cleburne
The Published Page Bookshop, Susan Langlois reading, discussing, and signing her new children's book, Everything is Going to Be All Right - A Story About Hurricane Harvey, 1PM
Corpus Christi
By the Book Bookstore, local author Esther Bonilla reading and signing her latest work, From the Porch Steps: Little Stories To Warm The Heart, 12PM
Dallas
Interabang Books, Shakespeare Unlocked, 1PM
The Wild Detectives, Shakespeare in the Bar Groundling Gala fundraiser, 7PM [tickets are by donation to Literacy Instruction for Texas (LIFT)]
Denton
B&N - Golden Triangle, Local author Tally Adams signing Shadow Pact, 2PM
El Paso
El Paso Public Library, Tumblewords Project workshop: "First Person: Woman" with Annette Velásquez, 12:45PM
Houston
Blue Willow Bookshop, Lisa Shumate will discuss and sign her new book, ALWAYS AND NEVER, 9:30AM
Blue Willow Bookshop, Don Johnston will discuss and sign his new book, THE DAR LUMBRE CHRONICLES, 3PM
Discovery Green, annual Writers in the Schools Blooms reading event: Children in grades K-12 will read original poems, stories, and essays on stage, 11:30AM
Half Price Books - North Oaks, Local Author Saturdays: Meet local Indie authors and pick up their latest release, while supplies last
Katherine Tyra Branch Library, Houston Writers Guild Library Workshop, 10:30AM
McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library, Reopening celebration, 10AM
Murder By the Book, Rosemary Poole-Carter will sign and discuss Only Charlotte, 1PM
Murder By the Book, Sam Brown will sign and discuss Unique Eats and Eateries of Houston, 4:30PM
River Oaks Bookstore, David R. Dow reading and signing Confessions of an Innocent Man, 3PM
Writespace, Workshop: "More than Just Describing Place: The Rules of Setting and When to Break Them" with BC Oliva, 9:30AM
Writespace, Workshop: "Bring Your Writing to Life" with Marian Szczepanski, 1PM
Irving
West Irving Library, NEA Big Read Irving 2019: What is a Memoir? with Author, editor, and public speaker Lisa Dale Norton, 2PM
Laredo
Laredo Public Library, Meet the Author - Hilda L. Treviño, 2PM
New Braunfels
The Book Haus, Book signing with children's author Carolyn Leiloglou, 10AM
Odessa
UTPB, Permian Basin Poetry Society Poetry Readings, 7PM
San Antonio
Crownridge Canyon Park and Wilderness Area, Gemini Ink presents Poetry at the Park: The Ode and Nature, 10AM
The Twig Book Shop, Catherine Stier signing If I Were a Park Ranger, 11AM
Sulphur Springs
The Bookworm Box, May the Fourth Be With You Author Signing with Colleen Hoover, Molly McAdams, Devney Perry and Rebecca Yarros, 12PM [ticketed event]
Wolfforth
Red Barn Ranch, Tea Party with author Jodi Thomas, 10AM
Red Barn Ranch, Lubbock Literacy dinner featuring author Jodi Thomas & Karen Witemeyer, 6PM
SUNDAY, MAY 5:
Austin
B&N - Arboretum, Alex Sheen signing Because I Said I Would, 1PM
BookPeople, KATE WILLIAMS & MICHELLE CAMPBELL speaking & signing Let's Go on Safari!, 2PM
BookPeople, SEHBA SARWAR speaking & signing Black Wings (in conversation with Liliana Valenzuela), 5PM
BookWoman, a night of translated poetry with acclaimed poet and recent Guggenheim Fellow Cyrus Cassells, 4PM
Malvern Books, The Lion & the Pirate Unplugged Open Mic, 1PM
Dallas
Half Price Books Mother Ship, Local Author Sundays: Meet local Indie authors and pick up their latest release, while supplies last
The Wild Detectives, Bard's Birthday Bash: To Know or not to Know, 7PM
Edinburg
Museum of South Texas History, Sunday Speaker Series: Emma Gonzalez discussing Field Mice-Memoirs of a Migrant Child, 2PM
Houston
Writespace, Workshop: "How to Outline Your Novels" with D.L. Young, 3PM
Irving
West Irving Library, NEA Big Read Irving 2019: Memoir Writing Workshop with author, editor, and public speaker Lisa Dale Norton, 1PM
Mansfield
Half Price Books, Local Author Sundays: Meet local Indie authors and pick up their latest release, while supplies last
Richardson
The Drawing Board, Writing Workshops Dallas seminar: Submitting to Journals & Magazines with Mag Gabbert, 3PM
The Drawing Board, Writing Workshops Dallas seminar: The Alchemy of Character with Jaye Wells, 3PM
San Antonio
Dead Tree Books, Ernest D Hernandez signing The Legend of Azul, 4PM
The Twig Book Shop, Norma Elia Cantu signing Cabanuelas, 12PM
Don't see your book or literary event here? Email Events@lonestarliterary.com with your complete info two weeks in advance of the issue in which your event is scheduled, and we'll include it
