What’s Going on in the Austin Book World May 5th – May 11th

May is here, and with it, many literary celebrations! Join BookKids in celebrating Eat What You Want Day, as well as Malvern Books in releasing college literary journals and having local author readings! This week is full of events, Q&A’s, and literary parties. Come out and join us!

Thursday, May 5th (7 PM) @ Malvern Books, enjoy Fantastical Fictions with Stina Leicht, an odd-monthly event focusing on the literary fantastic across genres and cultures.

Thursday, May 5th (7 PM) @ Book Woman, enjoy Lourdes Perez & May Nasr with special guest Nancy Scott to celebrate the release of their full length Spanish/ Arabic duet album.

Saturday, May 7th (1130 AM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a Special Storytime with Author Brian Lies! speaking and signing Gator Dad.

Saturday, May 7th (4 PM) @ Malvern Books, enjoy the Hothouse Literary Journal Release Party, the official journal for the UT English Department.

Sunday, May 8th (4 PM) @ Malvern Books, enjoy the Austin Writers Roulette, a line up of artists who love to perform their original written works such as poetry, essays, spoken word, singer-songwriting, or excerpts from novels.

Monday, May 9th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy Juan Thompson in conversation with Douglas Brinkley about Stories I Tell Myself: Growing Up with Hunter S. Thompson.

Tuesday, May 10th (1030 AM) @ BookPeople, enjoy Eat What You Want Day Storytime! reading Bread and Jam for Frances.

Tuesday, May 10th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy writer Corinna Nicolaou speaking and signing A None’s Story: Searching for Meaning Inside Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam. 

Wednesday, May 11th (7 PM) @ Malvern Books, enjoy the ACC Creative Writing Literary Release Party featuring Austin Community College’s journal, The Rio Review. 

Upcoming Events and Classes at The Writing Barn

S6 Week Class: Picture Book Nonfiction: Style & Substance:

We are adding to our successful picture book offerings adding a NEW class on Picture Book Nonfiction. This broad category of the growing picture book market includes picture book biographies, work for hire projects, texts centering on the natural world, science and more.Over the course of the 6 weeks, 4 weeks will be spent on the study of picture book biographies and each student will choose a subject, research, and draft a picture book biography during the class. The picture book biographies will be workshopped in the last class, allowing for ample time to shape the manuscripts.

6 Week Class: Perfecting the Picture Book I *North Austin satellite location:

Carmen Oliver is the author of picture books Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies(Capstone Young Readers/Curious Fox, Mar 2016) and The Favio Chavez Story (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, TBD)

There will be a lesson presented each week with exercises each writer will be critiqued at least once. Carmen will share drafts of her own picture book revisions along with notes from editors and agents to aid in the learning process.