What I Did at the 2014 Texas Book Festival

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2014 Texas Book Festival, authors, books, Hector Tobar, Joyce Carol Oates, Martin Amis, Neil Swidey, Norman Lear, Rebecca Alexander, Sarah Bird, Texas Book Festival

Yours Truly with TBF Director Lois Kim (c.) and the Woman of the Weekend (and new boots!) Sarah Bird (Photo by Bob Daemmrich)

Here’s the short version of what I did at the year’s Texas Book Festival (Hint: Follow the links!):

Saturday

Martin Amis: Slate’s review of Martin Amis’ new novel, “The Zone of Interest,” starts:  “Every review of a new book by Martin Amis must, in some way, be a review of Martin Amis — a reflection on the State of Amis.” Amis himself delivered a brief master course on the State of Amis in his Saturday session in the House Chamber during the Texas Book Festival.

The Texas Writer Award Presentation to Sarah Bird: Lois Kim, executive director of the Texas Book Festival, presented the Texas Writer Award to Sarah Bird Saturday afternoon in the House Chamber …

Joyce Carol Oates: Joyce Carol Oates drew one of Saturday’s largest crowds in the House Chamber during the Texas Book Festival. She started by reading the beginning of “Mastiff,” one of the stories from her new collection, “Lovely, Dark, Deep” and then presented a look into the thought process of assembling a book.

Sunday

Rebecca Alexander: The Texas Book Festival and the Austin Jewish Book Fair partnered to present Rebecca Alexander, the author of the memoir “Not Fade Away: A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found”  

The Producer: Norman Lear: Legendary producer Norman Lear lived up to his top billing at the Texas Book Festival before a packed House Chamber on Sunday. It was one of those magical festival moments to left everyone in the room wanting another hour or two or three.

Descent Into the Depths: Neil Swidey and Hector Tobar: In Sunday’s “Descent Into the Depths” panel at the Texas Book Festival, journalists Neil Swidey and Hector Tobar explored how the survivors of two man-made disasters have fared on the other side.

Any guesses?! Let’s just say it was a whole ‘nother way of doing the Festival! More later!

Did you go to the 2014 Texas Book Festival? What was your favorite author, moment, session, book, etc.?

Your Writing Road Map

As a writer, you have more to think about than writing that book you’ve always wanted to write. Lurking beyond writing, revising, and researching is a big question: Should you follow the traditional publishing route or head off into the wilds of self-publishing?

The key to setting your literary GPS is collecting enough information to make the decision that’s best for you and your book.

I’m delighted to help steer you in your right direction next Saturday, December 14, 2013,  when I have the privilege of leading a Writers’ League of Texas workshop called “Mapping Your Publishing Path: How to Find a Home for Your Book.”

We’ll navigate the options and resources that can provide valuable guidance for you. My goal is to help you get revved up and ready to select the route to your readers.

It Takes a Team!

Here’s one of the things we’ll cover in the class that always surprises aspiring writers: No matter which way you choose, you WILL end up working with a team.

You might work with an editor, a designer, and a publicist. If your budget doesn’t allow for that, you can barter with a writing group or a writing partner to help you revise and edit your book as you return the favor.

Although I’m not a fan of a writer doing it all and putting an ebook up on Amazon with no one else seeing it before the first reader, even that writer has teammates she may never meet:  the good people working behind the scenes at Amazon, Facebook, or the company hosting his or her website. Not to mention the readers who (we hope!) will start weighing in.

As solitary as the process of writing can be, it does take a team of some kind to bring your book to your readers. And in a way, isn’t that reassuring?

The “Mapping Your Publishing Path” workshop on December 14 is $109 (Writers’ League members receive discounted pricing). The class is from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Edward’s University in Austin. For more information, please see the class description here and explore the Writers’ League website.

100 Book Blogs to Follow

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Book blogs

Here’s a fun list of book blogs from CouponAudit.Which ones do you follow?

An infographic by the team at CouponAudit

An infographic by the team at CouponAudit