President Jimmy Carter signs at BookPeople Aug. 1

 

President Jimmy Carter will be at BookPeople in Austin, Sat., Aug. 1 at 2:30 p.m. to sign his new book, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety (Simon & Schuster, July 2015), a memoir of pride, humor, and a few second thoughts.

 

With a frankness that is disarming, Carter recalls with detail and emotion his youth in rural Georgia, its racism, and the isolation of the Carters. He describes the brutality of the hazing regimen at Annapolis, and how he nearly lost his life twice serving on submarines. He describes the profound influence his mother had on him, and how he admired his father even though he didn't emulate him. He admits that he decided to quit the Navy and later enter politics without consulting his wife, Rosalynn, and how appalled he is in retrospect.

 

Carter has lived one of the great American lives — from rural obscurity to world fame, universal respect, and contentment.

 

This is event is a signing only. President Carter will not give a public talk. Tickets are required to join the signing line. Tickets are available to purchase online and in-store. (As of July 27, tickets are still available.)

 

(Information from BookPeople website)

 

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100 authors, creative writing experts, musicians, and performers slated for 7th annual East Texas Book Fest

 

The seventh annual East Texas Book Fest takes place on Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, in Tyler's Harvey Convention Center, located at 2000 West Front Street, Tyler. The event is free.

 

One hundred Texas authors who write in many genres and for all ages will display their books and chat with readers. In addition, professionals will demonstrate and explain various literacy projects for children and adults. Other experts will lead seminars to make reading more meaningful and rewarding to all and to help writers improve their craft and sales.

 

SALT (Smith County Area Libraries Together) organized the first ETX Book Fest in 2009 to celebrate libraries, authors, books, and reading. SALT is an organization of Smith County Public libraries — Tyler Public Library, Lindale Library, Troup Municipal Library, Bullard Community Library, and Whitehouse Community Library — and UT Tyler Muntz Library.

 

In 2014, TAP for Literacy (Tyler Area Partners for Literacy), a collaboration of agencies and organizations devoted to expanding literacy at all levels, joined the team as co-organizer. This collaboration brings new dimensions, activities, authors, and attendees to this regional event. SALT and TAP for Literacy are both 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organizations serving libraries and literacy.

 

Here’s a selection of authors appearing at the festival by topic.

 

WRITING FOR CHILDREN

Cynthia Leitich Smith (left), author of Tantalize, Eternal, Blessed, and more

Don Tate, author and Illustrator of Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton (Sept 2015), It Jes' Happened When Billy Traylor Started to Draw (2012), and more

 

SO YOU WANT TO PUBLISH A BOOK?

Chris Rogers, author of Emissary (Nov. 2014), Here Lies A Wicked Man, Write the Scene 3 Easy Ways, Ramp Up Tension 3 Easy Ways, Plot Your Story 3 Easy Ways, and more

 

CONNECTING WITH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF YOUNG ADULTS

Dr. Rene Saldaña, author of Heartbeat of the Soul of the World, Dancing With the Devil and Other Tales of Beyond, ¡Juventud! Growing up on the Border, The Jumping Tree, and more

 

AWARD-WINNING FICTION FOR ADULTS

Ben Fountain (far left), author of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Thomas McNeely (left), author of Ghost Horse

 

WRITING BOOKS and SINGING SONGS

Mike Blakely, author of A Song To Die For, What Are the Chances, A Tale Out of Luck, Come Sundown, Comanche Dawn, and more

 

WRITING WHAT YOU KNOW

Antonio Ruiz-Camacho (left), author of Barefoot Dogs: Stories

Tracy Dahlby, author of Into the Field: A Correspondent's Notebook

 

WRITING BIOGRAPHIES

M. J. Mooney, author of The Life and Legend of Chris Kyle: American Sniper, Navy SEAL

M. M. McAllen, author of Maximilian and Carlota: Europe's Last Empire in Mexico

Dr. Carlos K. Blanton, author of George I. Sánchez, The Long Fight for Mexican American Integration

 

FAMILIES ARE HISTORY

Chris Tomlinson, author of Tomlinson Hill and producer of Tomlinson Hill: Are We Equal Yet?

 

For further information, visit www.etxbookfest.org or email etxbookfest@yahoo.com

 

(Information from East Texas Book Festival’s website)

 

 

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Cisco Writers Club 39th Annual Summer Writing Contest open for submissions

 

The Cisco Writers Club 39th Annual Summer Writing Contest is now accepting entries. Writers anywhere may enter; membership in the Cisco Writers Club is not required. Six categories are available, with several special prizes offered.

1. Poetry, maximum 30 lines

2. Publication Briefs:

        (a) Anecdotes (as in Reader's Digest), maximum 200 words;

        (b) Columns), maximum 750 words

3. Articles), maximum 2,000 words

4. Short Stories:

        (a) For Children (12 and under) ), maximum 1,200 words;

        (b) General), maximum 2,500 words

5. Books, submit brief synopsis and first two chapters

6. Children Write! Any genre, maximum 1,000 words (Age limit: 15 or younger)

 

Enter by mail or online. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2015. Visit www.ciscowritersclub.org/contest for eligibility, formatting guidelines, and entry.

 

(From organization’s news release)