I am over-the-top excited that it’s Texas Book Festival time again and, like many of you, I’m planning my weekend around the amazing in-person panel discussions and virtual author talks throughout the week! 

This festival is one of the most prestigious and longest-running book festivals in the country and will host both in-person and online events for every age and category of book lover October 23-31. See the full festival lineup and schedule here: texasbookfestival.org.

From iconic legends in Texas music to Texas poets to novels set in Texas to Texas rivers, we’ve selected our list of “Must-See Notable Texas Author Panels” at the 26th annual Texas Book Festival (in no particular order):

Friday, October 29, 10:45am – 11:30am CST (virtual event)

Viva Texas Rivers!: Adventures, Misadventures, and Glimpses of Nirvana along Our Storied Waterways – Viva Texas Rivers! is an illustrated treasure trove of stories, poems, and essays from dozens of Texas literary voices, past and present, exploring their personal connections with the Lone Star State’s waterways. Contributors Steven Davis, Sam Pfiester, Carmen Tafolla, Joe Nick Patoski, and TBF 2021 poster artist Clemente Guzman talk about the making of the book and share their own experiences. Register here

Friday, October 29, 12:45pm – 1:30pm CST (virtual event)

Legends of Texas Music – Photographer Tracy Anne Hart (Seeing Stevie Ray) spent nearly a decade capturing moments—both quiet and loud—in the life of legendary Texas-born guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Longtime music journalist Michael Corcoran profiles in Ghost Notes not only household names but also the far-too-little-knowns of the Texas music pantheon—for instance, a Black gay Houston couple who inspired the creation of rock ’n’ roll. Together, Hart and Corcoran discuss these artists’ lives, their legacies, and their impact on music far beyond Texas. Register here

Sunday, October 31, 10:00am – 10:45am CST (virtual event)

The Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico – Join Elaine Ayala, Ellen Riojas Clark, Jennifer Speed and Kathy Sosa as they discuss the far-too-little-known women of the Mexican Revolution. Anthology The Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico embraces an expansive definition of the word “revolutionary” by looking at female role models and subversives from the last century who stood up for their visions and ideals and continue to stand for them today. Register here

Sunday, October 31, 2:00pm – 2:45pm CST (in-person event)

The Lone Star Way of Life – Texas Monthly editors Kathy Blackwell, Wes Ferguson, José R. Ralat and Mimi Swartz share with audiences the treasures found in Being Texan: Essays, Recipes, and Advice for the Lone Star Way, a rich anthology of Texas tales, artifacts, and reportage. In-person tickets (free). Register for live stream

Sunday, October 31, 2:00pm – 2:45pm CST (virtual event)

Texas Poets: New Work – Texas poets Kendra Allen (The Collection Plate), Logen Cure (Welcome to Midland), 2019 Texas Poet Laureate Carrie Fountain (The Life), and Tomás Q. Morín (Machete) gather to read from and discuss their latest work. Register here

Sunday, October 31, 3:00pm – 3:45pm CST (in-person event)

Writers’ League of Texas Presents: Novels as Big as Texas – Join authors Stacey Swann (Olympus, Texas), William Sibley (Here We Go Loop de Loop), Kelsey McKinney (God Spare the Girls), and Simon Han (Nights When Nothing Happened)—all of whom have authored new novels featuring the Lone Star State as backdrop, and in some cases as character in its own right.  In-person sold out. Register for livestream

Texas Book Festival October 23-31, 2021

Cover photo courtesy Texas Book Festival

Leona Barr is a native Texan and avid reader, living her best life in Austin.