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Texas Book Festival

Random howls into the worldSelf-careThe Writing Life
April 27, 2020

Virtually Mad: how author life has morphed

Is it Monday? Of what month? Did I wear this shirt yesterday? Is my hair clean? Why am I sleeping until 10 am? It must be because I’m binge-watching all six seasons of Downton Abbey like a crack addict. Welcome to Authors in Pandemics, where book nerds like me are being stretched harder than any at-home yoga app can do. Here we are at the start of another week of my new, virtual author life, where everything, right down to my office, has become part of a video. That means it’s you, me and my phone camera, my friends. Let's just hope I remember to point it in the right direction. Here's the schedule this week: Tuesday, April 28: a takeover of the Texas Book Festival Instagram feed during which I plan to make a café con leche in my kitchen and ponder 'what would the Suárez family do in a pandemic'? Thursday, April 30: video panel for the Virginia State Reading Association’s virtual seminar series, featuring me and fellow Virginia authors A.B. Westrick and Steven K. Smith, along with teacher extraordinaire, Pernille Ripp following us. Friday, May 1: keynote as part of the much-anticipated Everywhere Book Festival, launched largely to help authors with books pubbing during the pandemic shut-downs.   In the past few weeks, children’s and YA authors have been scrambling to stay calm while we help teachers, librarians, and kids survive the pandemic as best we can. Some folks are practicing self care quietly. Others have been…
AppearancesAwards and news
October 19, 2015

Kaywell Award and Texas Book Festival Photos

Running like a mad woman today, so I'm putting up some photos of last week's travels. Met so many wonderful people - educators, literary philanthropists, fellow authors. This was also the first time that Ahora Si! magazine sponsored a tent at the Texas Book Festival where Latino authors and programming were available all day. Very cool! Here are just a few shots. With Melanie Griffin, archivist at USF, Dr. Joan Kaywell, and Kaywell committee chair James Leggett How's THIS for a set of wheels? My ride after the awards ceremony in Tampa. Thanks, Donna Heath! Visiting cousin Carlos A walk along the path. I love Spanish moss in the trees. Yep. We're in Austin. The day begins in the best way: Maya Smart is my Texas Book Festival contact for the day Thank you Texas Book Festival and Candlewick Press! Maya and I handing out books after my talk with Reading Rockstars Clay tiles in Zavala ES's garden, which has chickens, goldfish, a bridge. Such a great space! rooftop with the fab Nikki Loftin and Lydia Gil The view from the amazing penthouse home of arts patrons Sandra and Walter Wilkie Jamie and the lovely Maya Smart The view from the author green room. Every party in Austin seemed to have a rooftop angle. Day 1: Renee Watson! We were both in polka dots and offered to be bestseller Eric Litwin's back up singers for Sing and Dance in Your PolkaDot Pants. We await your call, Eric. Catching up with…