Media Coverage Roundup: 2015 Texas Book Festival

As the dust settles from all of the excitement surrounding the 2015 Texas Book Festival, we’ve finally had a chance to take a breather and bask in some of the afterglow. 

This quote from the Dallas Morning News sums up our sentiment exactly: “Every year, the Texas Book Festival gets a little bigger. And every year, summing it up in a few words becomes a little less likely.” So, instead of recapping the literary merrymaking of a weekend, we’re going to let you take it straight from the horse’s mouth.

Since the Texas Book Festival’s got a bit of a theme going with it being their 20th anniversary and all, we’ve rounded up 20 press links and stories about this year’s Fest that we think you’ll enjoy.

C-SPAN, Texas Book Festival 2015

Book TV’s coverage of the 20th annual Texas Book Festival features Michael Weiss, Joby Warrick, Margo Jefferson, John Markoff, Louisa Hall, Ari Berman, Ashlee Vance, Kevin Ashton, Betty Boyd Caroli, and Mark Updegrove.

Bustle, 10 Amazing Margaret Atwood Quotes From The 2015 Texas Book Festival, From The Future Library Project To Real-Life Sex Robots

The 20th Texas Book Festival has taken over Austin this weekend, making the Lone Star State’s Capitol a book-lover’s dream. Entire blocks have been closed off to make room for tents brimming with books, talks featuring literary heroes, live music, and food trucks of every variety. Visitors have also gotten the chance to enjoy impressive indoor venues like the Capitol building itself and the historic Paramount Theatre. One of the most anticipated talks kicked off Saturday when Margaret Atwood spoke in the House Chamber. For those who weren’t able to attend in person, here are 10 amazing quotes from Margaret Atwood’s talk at the 2015 Texas Book Festival.

Austin American-Statesman, 10 writers talk about their favorite festival moments

The first Texas Book Festival took place in 1996, which makes the 2015 version the 20th anniversary of the Texas Book Festival. Here, ten writers discuss their favorite book festival memory.

Dallas Morning News, Texas Book Festival: How much fun can we fit into one blog post?

Looking back over the weekend, thinking of all the incredible minds assembled to speak and all the happy people — possibly skewing younger than in past years, or maybe I am getting older — flocking to see them, I have to celebrate the festival for moving the attention of the publishing world to Texas for a couple of days and for throwing one heck of a party for those of us who think books are something to be read, celebrated and enjoyed with as many people as possible.

Austin Way, Laura Bush Says She Had Nightmares Before the First Texas Book Festival

As the Texas Book Festival celebrates 20 years, cofounder Laura Bush reflects on how it has evolved and why it’s so important. 

Texas Standard, An insider’s guide to the 2015 Texas Book Festival 

This weekend tens of thousands of Texans will descend on the grounds of the state capitol for a little shindig called the Texas Book Festival. The annual celebration of all things literary will host 300 authors this year– the biggest yet. Our in-house literary expert Clay Smith, editor of Kirkus Reviews, has an inside line on the festival.

FOX News Latino, Texas Book Festival highlights works of Latino writers

This year, some 30 Hispanic and Latin American writers will be on hand for the Festival including Sandra Cisneros, Eduardo Espina, Carmen Tafolla, and Luis Alberto Urrea. During the Festival, noteworthy Latino writer Pat Mora will be honored with the Texas Writer Award, which consists of a pair of custom-made cowboy boots decorated with the Texas Book Festival emblem.

KUT, Texas Book Festival 2015

KUT’s Jennifer Stayton talks with festival Executive Director Lois Kim about what’s new at this year’s festival and how books have withstood a surge in technology competing for people’s attention. And to honor the 20th anniversary of the TBF, Austin authors, festival volunteers, and festival organizers have been sharing some of their favorite festival memories.

Culturemap Austin, The insiders’ guide to the biggest Texas Book Festival in history

With more than 40,000 people expected to attend, the free festival boasts a genre-bending mix of activities for book lovers of all stripes. 

The Austinot, Texas Book Festival 2015, Free for All Book Lovers at Capitol

You may end up buying books you never thought you’d be interested in after an author says something that connects you to their work, or you may solidify your love for an author you already know. Either experience will have you coming back year after year.

Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Texas Book Festival: Meet the Authors

Every October, the Live Music Capital of the World transforms into the Book Mecca of the State. This year’s Texas Book Festival, taking place October 17 & 18, marks the 20th anniversary of the literary event started by former First Lady Laura Bush in 1995. This year’s festival boasts more than 300 authors, the most of any year so far, and will include dozens of author panels and readings, two days of live music, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, Lit Crawl Austin and more. We connected with five of this year’s TBF authors and asked them why they love Texas Book Festival!

KXAN, Crowds flock to Texas Book Festival 

Hundreds of authors will be at today’s 20th Annual Texas Book Festival over at the State Capitol. Some reports online said some authors have been selling out because it’s so popular!

Victoria Advocate, Texas Book Festival entertains all ages

Throughout the past 20 years, the festival has grown to include writers from all over the world and of every genre. The Texas Book Festival committee works with nonprofit groups, businesses, schools and publication companies to be able to provide a free event perfect for the whole family that to date, has been able to donate more than $2.6 million to Texas libraries. Every year, they bring big name authors. This year is definitely no exception.

Austin Fusion Magazine, Recap: Texas Book Festival

The book love is exactly the feeling that I would use to describe The Texas Book festival. Towards the end of the day, I put down my camera and just people watched. I kept seeing the same thing over and over. Mobile phone zombies were replaced by book zombies as I observed the same tilt of the head and intense stare downward, this time from the young and the old. I even saw entire families just sitting and reading together. Other families started to walk as they had a book in hand and then they stopped overcome by the urge to flip the pages of their newly acquired treasure. Book lovers gathered and celebrated all things books this year in a big way, at the The Texas Book Festival.

The Daily Texan, Dog Ear This: Daily-Texan’s Guide to the TBF

While thousands of flower crown-clad hipsters stormed the streets last weekend for Austin City Limits Music Festival, a crowd of well-behaved booklovers will flood the city for the 20th Annual Texas Book Festival this weekend. Speakers such as A Series of Unfortunate Events writer Daniel Handler, known by his pseudonym Lemony Snicket, and “The House on Mango Street” author Sandra Cisneros will join children’s book authors, cookbook writers, photographers and live musicians for a weekend of panels, talks and activities at the Texas State Capitol. 

KVUE, Authors come to Austin for Texas Book Fest

The Texas Book Festival comes to Austin next weekend and more than 300 authors will be in town to meet fans. Joining KVUE in the studio to tell more about this year’s lineup was the festival’s literary director Steph Opitz and award-winning author of Migratory Animals, Mary Helen Specht.

Austin Chronicle, A Whole Lotta Lit to Hit: Texas Book Festival’s 2015 Lit Crawl is as huge as the state

Ghost stories in the State Cemetery. Nerd Jeopardy. Crimes Against Humanity with books. Writers trying to identify their own words – and failing. Writers confessing their worst failures. Writers facing off in a Literary Death Match. Cocktails and coloring books. When one night goes this far off the rails, it must be the return of Lit Crawl Austin.

FOX-7, Texas Book Festival

Texas Book Festival Executive Director Lois Kim talks about all the events going on this weekend (October 17-18) for the festival.

Austin Monthly, Having a word with Steph Opitz

As the literary director for the Texas Book Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, Steph Opitz is in charge of booking the authors. With more than 275 participating this year, including Margaret Atwood, Chuck Palahniuk and H.W. Brands, there’s an author for everyone.

Austin American-Statesman, Texas Book Festival 2015: Critic’s Picks

The Austin American-Statesman’s critics Joe Gross, Charles Ealy and Sharyn Vane share their picks for who to see at the 20th annual Texas Book Festival on Oct. 17-18.