Like so many things right now—school, work, socializing, Halloween; pretty much everything but raking leaves—this year’s Texas Book Festival will bear little resemblance to its former self. The Austin-based celebration of literary culture, which begins this Saturday, October 31, and runs through November 15, will be held entirely online. Though this will deprive festival-goers of the opportunity to enjoy a moment of personal connection with a favorite author while getting a book signed, much of the event’s pleasures will remain intact. More than 150 authors will show up to talk about their lives and their work, read from their books, and take questions from the audience. Even the TBF’s pub-centric Lit Crawl will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a virtual update that one can enjoy from the comforts of home, cocktail or wineglass in hand. The author lineup is as impressive as ever, featuring celebrated authors from around the country and the world. And, as always, there will be many Texas authors on hand, such as Amanda Eyre Ward, Stephen Graham Jones, and Natalia Sylvester. Below is our coverage of a selection of the Lone Star writers and books you might encounter over the next few weeks.
Texas Book Festival 2020
The Austin-based celebration of literary culture begins October 31.
Black Studies Scholar Peniel Joseph on the Significance of the BLM Protests
The UT professor sees echoes of the past—and hope for the future—in the demonstrations rocking the nation.
Recipe: Thai Omelet Breakfast Tacos From ‘Thai Fresh: The Cookbook’
Chef Jam Sanitchat's first recipe collection is based on her many years of teaching Thai cooking and running a South Austin staple.
Go-Go’s Bassist Kathy Valentine Remembers the Sounds of 1970s Austin
The Texas native's new memoir offers plenty to listen to.
How I Found True Joy on a Four-Day Carnival Cruise
Austin-based novelist Amanda Eyre Ward discovers that sometimes, you need to go way, way out at sea to gaining a clearer perspective.
The Delicate History of the Puffy Taco
Who invented San Antonio’s signature Tex-Mex dish? And why hasn’t it blown up (sorry) around the world?
Are We Ready to Rehabilitate George W. Bush’s Reputation?
Can a batch of new books, a documentary, and Donald Trump’s calamitous administration resuscitate the legacy of our 43rd president—and his illustrious family?
After the Protests: Four Perspectives on the State’s Criminal Justice System
While demonstrators marched in cities and towns across the country, a police union rep, an activist, a legislator, and an attorney sat down to discuss how to break the deadlock and bring about better policing.
Lawrence Wright on the Politics of the Pandemic
The Austin author says he wrote his new pandemic thriller as a "cry of warning," but he never expected it to be released during an eerily similar crisis.
Excerpt: ‘Sutherland Springs: God, Guns, and Hope in a Small Texas Town,’ by Joe Holley
In an exclusive first look at his new book, journalist Joe Holley revisits the terrible morning when mayhem descended on a rural Texas church.
A Parent’s Problematic Pandemic Bequest
When my mother died, she left behind hundreds of items that my family might need if civilization goes south. Deciding what to do with them forced me to weigh the demands of the present and the future.
