Check back later for more info on the 2022 Lubbock Book Festival!
ABOUT
September 25th & 26th at the Mahon Public Library
This free, two-day long Lubbock Book Festival connects authors and readers through an exciting event to celebrate literacy, creativity, and stories! With over 40+ award-winning and best-selling authors in attendance, and so many genres represented, we’ll have a little bit for everyone. From the tiniest of tots to the experienced reader, from YA fiction to crime thriller and everything in between, this festival will highlight the thriving author culture deeply rooted in LBK!
We’ll have author panels and book signings, book sales, family-fun crafts and activities, a massive used book sale courtesy of Friends of the Library, writing workshops, outdoor entertainment, food trucks, and more! Can’t wait to see you there!
This event also functions as a fundraiser for Literacy Lubbock’s educational programs. Our mission is to change lives through literacy, one person at a time. Please, help us fight back against Lubbock County’s 13% illiteracy rate by attending!
Brought to you by:
PROGRAMMING
Saturday, September 25th
Panels
Located in the Community Room
(1st Floor)
Meet Bob Horton (Of Bulletins and Booze), Sixtus Atabong (My Father’s Gift), and Frank Sikes (West Texas Middleweight: The Story of LaVern Roach), for an absorbing discussion about what it takes to create a compelling non-fiction story. Moderated by a member of TTU Press.
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
With a powerhouse panel of former CIA Intelligence Officer Taylor Moore (Down Range), award-winning Rick Treon (Deep Background), and former Lubbock Police Chief Thomas J. Nichols (We Were Young Once…), and moderated by Barbara Brannon (Paragraph Ranch), we will dive deep into the world of writing dark and gritty suspense stories. Get ready for stories that grip your heart right out of your chest!
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
We are excited to assemble three highly successful and award-winning women writers to talk about stories women love! Teddy Jones (Making it Home), award-winning Carol Lipscomb (author of The Lady Makes Boots: Enid Justin and the Nocona Boot Company), and Jan Sikes (Ghostly Interference) talk with moderator Kim Hunt Harris (Trailer Park Princess series) about stories that sizzle in the women’s fiction marketplace.
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
Lubbock’s deep cultural scene makes for a captivating read! The legendary Cary C. Banks from the Maines Brothers Band (Almost Like a Professional: My Life and Career as a West Texas Musician), the prolific Mike Cox (Train Crash at Crush, Texas: America’s Deadliest Publicity Stunt), and CMA’s 2020 Texas Artist of the Year Cathy Jewell, are led by moderator Terry Greenberg (former editor of Lubbock Avalanche Journal) as we dive into fascinating Texas (and Lubbock!) history. Panel sponsored by Agnew Associates, Inc.
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
Local writing legend, NYT, and USA Today best-selling author Jodi Thomas (Ransom Canyon series, Harmony series) will discuss the book business in these ever-changing times. The industry is undergoing dramatic changes in how people consume their entertainment, from books and movies to streaming channels and games. Jodi will cover her experiences over the past few decades and how the industry has undergone a creative transformation.
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
About Jodi Thomas:
With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas, drawing in readers from around the world.
In July 2006, Jodi became the 11th writer to be included into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.
Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumna by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, she also serves at the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
Linda Broday (A Cowboy of Legend), and Karen Witemeyer (The Heart’s Charge) join moderator DK Kerr (Last Chance Texas) as they discuss romance stories that come from the heart.
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
Let your imagination soar to brave new worlds featuring James Stoddard (Liberty Bell and the Last American), KJ Waters (Stealing Time), and Steve Curry (Austin Wyrd). Moderated by Dr. Keith West (TTU Physics Professor).
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
Writing Workshops
Located in the Children's Storybook Room
(1st Floor)
Join James Stoddard (Sci-fi/Fantasy), Rick Treon (Crime/Suspense), KJ Waters (Time Travel Suspense) and Dan Dwayne Spencer (Mystery/YA/Fantasy) as we invite you to submit a chapter or sample of your writing for critique. Deadline is September 6th to submit up to 3,000 words of your first chapter or a representative sample for a review by one of the instructors. If you missed the deadline, or are shy, you will still get a lot out of this workshop as the authors cover material on plot development, story arc, self-editing, and more. Writers of all levels are welcome!
Mike Cox (Train Crash at Crush, Texas: America’s Deadliest Publicity Stunt) has written over seven million words in his career as an author! His collection of works is comprised of more than 30 nonfiction books and includes the acclaimed Texas Ranger History series, hundreds of magazine articles, newspaper columns, and essays. In this workshop, he will share his vast knowledge of writing to inspire your creativity and writing life, based on his upcoming book Seven Million Words.
Whatever you write—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and more—authentic stories of the past can enrich your writing In this hands-on workshop, we’ll look at practical techniques for researching sources, tapping family memories, verifying facts, and weaving history into any genre—as well as being attuned for the moment that sparks your next story! Bring a document or artifact with you (or we’ll have some to share) for a hands-on writing activity.
Barbara Brannon is a co-author, along with Kay Ellington, of the Paragraph Ranch series of Texas novels. She also writes under the name of Will Brandon, penning The Wolf Hunt: A Tale of the Texas Badlands. A former university press managing editor, these days she works as the editor and co-owner of a series of West Texas newspapers.
Jan Sikes (Ghostly Interference) leads this dynamic workshop, where you’ll talk in-depth about how to convert a possibly-boring biography into a compelling novel capable of rivaling any fiction creation! The old saying, “truth is stranger than fiction” is the theme of this workshop. She’ll also cover some critical points regarding scene structure and the super-important topic of “showing vs. telling.” Handouts will be provided.
USA Today bestselling author Kim Hunt Harris (Trailer Park Princess series) will inspire you to use more humor in your writing, no matter the genre! Humor is a multi-tasking powerhouse in your writing. A joke can instantly show characterization, reveal relationships, shift the tension of your plot, deliver a painful truth in an easy-to-swallow way, and even endear you to your readers. This workshop will highlight the many ways humor can bump up your writing, even if you’re not writing a “funny” book, and we’ll go over some classic tales that have expertly used humor to memorable effect.
On the Lawn
Located Outside Behind the Library
(1st Floor)
Delight your senses with Nathan Masten’s high flying kite demonstration! His stunning skyward acrobatics will leave you dazzled and amazed as his kites swoop, dip, dive, swipe, and float along the breeze!
Cary is a professional musician, award-winning songwriter and television host, and music educator. As a member of the Maines Brothers Band (recording albums on Mercury Records), Cary was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in Lubbock Texas.
Cathy has won many awards in her singing career. She is a 2019 AWA Pure Country Female Vocalist of the Year, 2020 CMA of Texas Artist of the Year, 2021 Pure Country Female Artist of the Year award winner.
Gather round and listen to a delightful story! Hosted by the Lubbock Public Library, this family-fun event is perfect for even the tiniest of tots!
Sunday, September 26th
Panels
Located in the Community Room
(1st Floor)
Library Director Stacy McKenzie and Mahon Branch Manager Charley Whalen will present a discussion that will help authors get their children’s books purchased by libraries and schools. In addition to a great story and illustrations, considerations for STEAM components, Lexile levels, and readability will be discussed. See examples of some of the best books that hit these marks to make more sales and get more readers for you children’s book!
A free children’s book giveaway will take place after this panel!
Lubbock has a number of children’s authors who write stories for young minds, helping to teach valuable lessons along the way. Join KCBD’s Karin McCay (The Magic Mommy series), S.J. Dahlstrom (Wilder Good series), and Teffanie Thompson (Dirt) for a discussion on creating valuable stories for children. Moderated by Literacy Lubbock Tiny Tot’s Reader Helen Liggett. Sponsored by UMC.
We have the incredible honor to host a group of best-selling authors on our teen fiction panel! A.G. Howard (Stain), Andrew J. Brandt (Mixtape for the End of the World), and Eliza Lainn (The Einherjar Games duology) chat about the magic, mayhem, and monsters rife in YA literature.
A book signing will take place immediately following the panel.
Writing Workshops
Located in the Children's Storybook Room
(1st Floor)
Learn trade secrets from bestselling author Andrew J. Brandt (Mixtape for the End of the World) as he guides you through the best online tools to get your novel published!
Once upon a time, comics were seen as the weakest storytelling medium. But that’s quickly changing! With the recent attention from Hollywood, comic book storytelling is more impactful than ever. Join Lance Stanford in an hour-long workshop where you can pick up the history of comics, their importance in today’s entertainment landscape, and what is involved in creating with this dynamic medium.
Sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste are five simple details that help make your fictional world come to life. Each sense is a powerful tool in its own way. Combined, they don’t simply describe the world that events take place in – they offer the reader a full, immersive experience. Grace Blair (Einstein’s Compass) will guide attendees through the writing process while paying special attention to these inclusive elements!
On the Lawn
Located Outside Behind the Library
(1st Floor)
Cathy has won many awards in her singing career, and she’s come to the Lubbock Book Festival to entertain you! She is the 2019 AWA Pure Country Female Vocalist of the Year, the 2020 CMA of Texas Artist of the Year, and the 2021 Pure Country Female Artist of the Year. You don’t want to miss her!
Delight your senses with Nathan Masten’s high flying kite demonstration! His stunning skyward acrobatics will leave you dazzled and amazed as his kites swoop, dip, dive, swipe, and float along the breeze!
Sit for a spell and enjoy some time with SJ Dahlstrom (Wilder Good series) as he reads stories from his works and talks about his horse Fancy.
Submissions for the 2021 Lubbock Book Festival are open now through August 2, 2021. Please click on the appropriate button above to apply.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
**Caprock Writers and Illustrators Alliance will have a special information session with Stacy McKenzie, the Lubbock Public Libraries Director, as she gives a more in depth look at the registration process during their July meeting.**
OUR SPONSORS
KIDS DAY!
Sunday is Kids Day at the Lubbock Book Festival!
- Children’s Literature Panels
- Crafts for the whole family
- Book giveaways courtesy of Kellogg’s and United Supermarkets
- and a horse (seriously, we’re not joking! S.J. Dahlstrom is going to bring his horse Fancy out to visit!)
THE COOKBOOK NOOK
Where food and literature deliciously collide!
Upstairs in the Literacy Lubbock Tomorrow Lab on Saturday, September 25th from 1:15 – 2:00, we’ll have the enchanting Angelina LaRue dish on her latest cookbook, The Whole Enchilada! Check out these five star reviews from Amazon on her delectable publication:
“What a great cookbook! Full of fun, fresh recipes that will keep your belly full and your heart happy!”
“The Whole Enchilada is a beautifully compiled collection of recipes with fresh ingredients, elegant photos, and delicious ingredients. Can’t wait to try them all.”
“This book is exactly what I wanted! This is a really good book for those who collected Mexican and New Mexican cookbooks.”
A KEYNOTE ADDRESS FROM JODI THOMAS
With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels and countless short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas, drawing in readers from around the world.
In July 2006, Jodi became the 11th writer to be included into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.
Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumna by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, she also serves at the Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.
Jodi’s Keynote will begin at 2:15 in the Mahon Community Room.
VIP BADGES & SWAG
What's included with your VIP Badge?
All proceeds from VIP Badge sales go toward funding programs which help adults learn how to read!
- exclusive access to the VIP Lounge, full of snacks and treats, throughout the Festival
- a free book of YOUR choice from one of our local author booths
- an invitation to the premiere, invite-only Prologue Party cocktail hour launch event
- $5 FOL (Friends of the Library) Bucks to spend in the massive underground used book sale happening on Saturday
- swag from our sponsors
THE USED BOOK SALE
Who are the Lubbock Friends of the Library?
The Friends of the Lubbock Library, Lubbock FOL, has an ongoing relationship with Literacy Lubbock. In addition to our common dedication to the community, we are proud to provide an annual grant to Literacy for use in their mission.
Lubbock FOL continues to serve the Lubbock Library system and its community. As local conditions change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FOL will continue to adapt in order to serve our community.
- Volunteers are observing protocols to maintain health and safety as they continue to generously donate their time. Learn More…
- Book donations are being accepted at multiple locations. Learn More…
- Online operations continue to list new items daily on eBay and AbeBooks.
- In-person shopping is available at the FOL Last Friday BookStore and Mini BookStore. Learn More…
- We also have Gift Certificates, good for any trip to our Last Friday BookStore or Special Sales. Learn More…
Join us on Saturday, September 25, 9:00-3:00 at the Lubbock Book Festival. Make your reservation to have a guaranteed entry time. Walk-ins are welcome but we monitor total visitors to ensure a comfortable and safe shopping experience.
FEATURED AUTHORS
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
