Festival Season Begins!
I’ve lived my whole life within thirty miles of Austin, Texas. My French teacher in high school used to mourn that I’d become one of those insular hick housewives, popping out a half-dozen kids before I turned thirty in a trailer park on the outskirts of town. I’d like to think she wouldn’t be dismayed at the direction my life took ( although she’d probably smack me for turning down that acceptance to UT Law school. Hey, I never wanted to make any money to begin with) but you never know what success means to different people.
Anyway, I love living in Austin, even more since I threw myself into the writing scene. Where else can you casually meet these kinds of authors at a local high school? (I’m totes taking my 15 y.o. niece, who thinks I am some sort of superhero for securing her face time with her idols.) Of course, I won’t bother taking her to the Big Mama of all Festivals, The Texas Book Festival. That’s where I get my fangirl on, with hundreds of the most spectacular authors in the Universe showing up to do small-group panels, talks, signings, etc. If you hang out in the Congressional cafeteria long enough, you can even Watch Famous Authors Order Cheeseburgers.
The coolest part about these festivals? They are FREE. All you have to do is clear your weekend out, and it’s like going to one of the best writing workshops in the country, except this one takes place in a city with good weather, excellent Mexican food, and only a very few trailer parks on the outskirts.
And, no, I do not live in one of those… yet. So, Writer Friends. If any of you can wing your way down here to Austin, and need a non-trailerish launch pad for your Festival Fun… send me a quick note! The guest bedroom is as cheap as it gets. 😉
Sad News: My 12 y.o. terrier Sugar died unexpectedly on Friday. She was a grumpy little dog, fiercely protective of the kids (she guarded their cribs when they were babies) and prone to express her displeasure with well-placed carpet stains. We all loved her so.
08/31/2010 at 5:18 am
Sorry to hear about Sugar. We had a grumpy little dog for 19 years. We still tell stories about her nearly 20 years later.
The Texas Book Festival sounds amazing. I’m going to have to remember that guest bedroom for next year maybe . . .
09/01/2010 at 12:05 pm
Lori- how about looking into the Austin SCBWI conference in February? It’s CHEAP and AMAZING. Registration just opened, too.
08/31/2010 at 1:27 pm
I’m sorry to hear about your grumpy little guardian. Love comes in all kinds of packages.
Texas has such an amazing writing scene. My weekends, and even many weekday evenings, are crammed with writing events from now until early November. Thank my lucky stars I’m in Texas! (With a short side trip to OK.)
09/01/2010 at 12:02 pm
Vonna – Thanks! I saw our line-up on your latest blog. Wow! You’re going to be busy. Maybe we’ll cross paths?
08/31/2010 at 3:30 pm
Nikki,
I’m sorry about Sugar. Sugar was a cute grumpster! And, I know an important part of your family. I still tear up about my childhood dog who passed away 3 years ago when I was preggers with the little man.
I hope I’m able to make it to The Book Festival this year!
~Lindsey
09/01/2010 at 12:01 pm
Thanks, L. I hope you can make it, too! It’s so good… but better with a friend.
09/01/2010 at 3:03 am
Can’t wait to fangirl with you at the Book Festival. And to see you and your adorable niece at the Teen Book Festival, too. I’m so excited, especially since we roll right into conference season from there and then TLA is in Austin this year and, and, and… Oh man, I’m never gonna be able to sleep tonight now. 🙂
09/01/2010 at 12:01 pm
Woot! I KNOW! It’s going to be so much fun. Wish I could go to all those other conferences with you. Take notes!!
09/14/2010 at 12:17 pm
All those book festivals make me want to move to Texas.
So sorry to hear about Sugar. Hope your family is doing well.