Texas Book Fest? You Mean Amazing-McAwesome-Magical Fest Right?

I just got back from the Texas Book Fest last weekend, where I was promoting Writefest, a new literary journal fair and writer’s workshop in Houston, Texas, hosted by Writespace, the local grassroots literary center I work with. I spent the weekend on a whirlwind meet and greet with a fellow writer friend, and I think we may never recover. We hung out with other writers, met remarkable authors, and got some serious Writefest inspiration.
 
Here’s a few highlights from the trip, as if you needed more proof that Austin is a city of magical unicorns. 
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1. We met Margaret Atwood. She was overwhelming, forcefully devoted to the craft, and it was like standing next to the literary equivalent of some kind of really sweet, tolerant norse god. Or something. 
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​2. We met a slew of other new writers I hadn’t heard of but now am obsessed with, including Amelia Gray and Edward Carey, who both write wonderfully weird things that I now must go read. (And Edward Carey doodled in his signature. Who doesn’t love that?) By the way, Carey is reading at Brazos Bookstore Nov. 16th, so make sure you check him out. 
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​3. We met Kelly Link, and took an uber with her, and saved her wallet. How does this even happen? Oh yeah, and her panel with Edward Carey was delightful. 
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5. We met Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, and told him we skipped a second beer at the bar (Did I mention Shiner Cheer is back out again? It’s enchanted, and I think it may have contributed to the magic of the weekend) just to come to his panel, which I think he was slightly bemused by, however, he is hilarious. 
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6. We met several people interested in Writefest, and got to share the good word about our mission to embolden new writers to submit submit submit! Austin – you are one rad city and I miss you always. 
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​Now my TBR pile is a massive highland crag and I have to go read for a while to assure my husband I am not a crazy book hoarder. Oh let’s admit it, I am a crazy book hoarder.