Opening Books, Opening Minds Since 1995

Books, authors, and big ideas collide.

First logo for Texas Book Festival

Texas Book Festival is established as a 501-3(C) organization.

Founded in 1995 by Laura Bush (a former librarian and then First Lady of Texas), Mary Margaret Farabee, and a dedicated group of volunteers, Texas Book Festival set out to honor Texas authors, promote the joys of reading, and benefit the state’s public libraries. The first Festival took place in November 1996 and is now one of the nation’s premier annual literary events, featuring more than 250 authors of the year’s best books and drawing 40,000 book lovers.

1995

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth

1995 SouthCongress DowntownAustin AustinHistoryCentercredit — Photo of 1995 Downtown Austin (Credit: Austin History Center)

Poster for the 1996 Texas Book Festival featuring a large group photo of authors and organizers gathered in the Texas State Capitol rotunda. The text reads “Texas Book Festival, November 16–17, 1996: A Gathering of Literary Stars,” with smaller sections including portraits of Laura Bush and Mary Margaret Farabee, a note from the editor, and a diagram identifying participants. — 1996 Festival Poster

Austin Chronicle

Festival Roundup

Interior of the 1996 Texas Book Festival brochure listing participating authors in multiple columns. The design includes illustrations of a typewriter, coffee cup, and notepad, along with a sidebar titled “The Fine Print” explaining book signings, parking, and festival logistics.

Texas Monthly

One for the Books

1996

Featured Authors

The cover shows First Lady Laura Bush standing outside reading with a group of young children. The headline reads “Texas Book Festival.” Inside, her article “Texas Books and Authors: A heritage as rich and varied as Texas” highlights the state’s literary diversity, invited authors, and her vision for the festival’s mission to celebrate Texas writers while supporting public libraries.

Texas Library Grants was founded

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Independence Day by Richard Ford
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Ship Fever and Other Stories by Andrea Barrett

Newspaper clipping titled “Texans Talk Books” from the Austin American-Statesman, featuring writers Tina Juarez and Mary Willis Walker laughing during a Texas Book Festival panel. Additional photos show a roundtable discussion and two cowboy hats resting on chairs. The accompanying article, “Festival at Capitol lets readers peep into writers’ minds,” covers the 1996 event’s author panels and lively debut.

Front-page spread from the Austin American-Statesman (September 29, 1996) announcing the first-ever Texas Book Festival. The image shows the Texas Capitol domes flanking a lineup of books by Texas authors.

Article titled “Reading, Writing, Celebrating” by Anne Morris, profiling the festival’s creation, Laura Bush’s leadership, and its fundraising mission for Texas libraries.

Article titled “Hurrah for book festival” (dated October 1, 1996), praising the event as a vital fundraiser for the state’s public libraries, with a small portrait of Laura Bush.

Article titled “Help Texas libraries” from November 13, 1996, urging public support for the Texas Book Festival and emphasizing the need for better funding and access across Texas libraries.

Poster for the 1997 Texas Book Festival designed in the style of papel picado, featuring a white cutout pattern on a red background. The design centers on a large star with a cowboy hat and open book icon in the middle. The text reads “Texas Book Festival, Sat & Sun, November 1st + 2nd, The State Capitol and Colorado Street, Austin, Texas, Laura Bush, First Lady of Texas, Honorary Chairman, Benefiting Texas Public Libraries.” A list of featured authors appears in small print along the right side. — 1997 Festival Poster

Two-page event schedule from the 1997 Texas Book Festival program showing sessions held on Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2. Saturday schedule: Lists author panels and readings across rooms in the Texas Capitol and Capitol Extension, including sessions such as True Crime: Rape, Murder, & Stolen Art, The Border in Fiction, and Texas Women Writers: A Tradition of Their Own. Featured participants include Larry McMurtry, Elmer Kelton, Mary Willis Walker, Janice Woods Windle, and Louis Sachar.

Sunday schedule: Continues the lineup with events like You Should Write a Book—I Did, Kinky Friedman: Roadkill, Women’s Voices in Fiction, and Tommy Tune: Footnotes. Children’s programs include readings by Angela Shelf Medearis, Naomi Shihab Nye, and John R. Erickson. The schedule spans multiple rooms and time slots, illustrating a full weekend of literary panels, author talks, and book signings.

Festival Schedule

Black-and-white scan of a sheet labeled with repeating “Texas Book Festival” logos, featuring a cowboy hat and open book graphic. Two sticky notes are attached — one reads “Please file,” and the other says “Originals for name tags (in case we need to run copies).” A paperclip is visible at the top of the page. — Festival name tags featuring original logo

1997

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

Featured Authors

The Voice of the Writer

Austin Chronicle Article

Colorful illustrated poster for the 1998 Texas Book Festival, held November 13–15 at the State Capitol and Colorado Street in Austin, Texas. The artwork features a stylized roadrunner standing in a desert landscape with agave plants and mountains in the distance. Below the illustration, featured authors are listed in multiple columns, along with event sponsors AT&T, the Austin American-Statesman, and local radio stations. The poster notes Laura Bush as First Lady of Texas and Honorary Chair and states that proceeds benefit Texas public libraries. — 1998 Festival Poster

Texas Book Festival accepts out-of-state authors!

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: American Pastoral, by Philip Roth
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Charming Billy by Alice McDermott

1998

Featured Authors

Newspaper clipping titled “Literary festival looks outside of state for big-name authors.” The article discusses Laura Bush’s involvement in the Texas Book Festival and mentions featured authors including Kinky Friedman, Mary Willis Walker, and Frank McCourt.

Newspaper clipping titled “Texas is putting its best and most promising writers on display again,” featuring a photo of Laura Bush and an article about the 1998 Texas Book Festival. The article highlights El Paso authors and lists participating writers including Abraham Verghese, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and Janice Woods Windle.

Black-and-white event grid from the 1998 Texas Book Festival showing panel schedules for Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15. Each chart lists session times, locations, and featured authors, including panels like “Writing What You Know,” “The Craft of Fiction,” and “How We Kill People for Fun & Profit.” Events took place across Capitol Extension rooms, the House Chamber, and outdoor tents.

Two-page 1998 Texas Book Festival schedule showing detailed listings for sessions, authors, and moderators. Events spanned November 14–15, featuring speakers like George Bush, Brent Scowcroft, Frank McCourt, Abraham Verghese, and Kinky Friedman. Panels covered fiction, memoir, poetry, film adaptations, and Texas history, all hosted across Capitol rooms and the outdoor grounds.

Cover of the 1998 Texas Book Festival program, featuring a stylized roadrunner illustration in a desert landscape with agave plants. The event took place November 13–15, 1998, at the Texas State Capitol and Colorado Street in Austin. Text notes Laura Bush as Honorary Chair and that proceeds benefited Texas public libraries.

Two-page newspaper spread from the 1998 Texas Book Festival program featuring the full weekend schedule, lists of participating authors, and feature articles. Articles highlight the festival’s return, author participation, and special events like the Children’s Chapter and author’s party. The layout includes detailed Saturday and Sunday grid schedules and author listings sorted by name and city.

Colorful 1999 Texas Book Festival poster featuring an illustration of women in floral dresses picking bluebonnets beside a red vintage car on a dirt road. In the background, cows graze under blue skies and trees. The event details—November 5–7, 1999, in Austin, Texas—are displayed below, with Laura Bush listed as Honorary Chairman and the festival benefiting Texas public libraries. — 1990 festival poster

Featured Authors

Staff Easter Egg

Attended the Festival for the first time in 1999 as an exhibitor. Worked the table for the Texas Historical Commission where I was the public relations coordinator.
— Nancy Nesbitt, Development Communications & Engagement Manager

Newspaper clipping titled “Bookworms descend on Capitol for fest,” reporting on the 1999 Texas Book Festival in Austin. The article notes more than 25,000 attendees and over $1.35 million raised for Texas public libraries since 1996. Authors Edwin “Bud” Shrake and Bill Wittliff were honored with the Bookend Award, and festivalgoers enjoyed author panels, children’s events, and live music on the Capitol grounds. — Associated Press newspaper clipping

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Hours by Michael Cunningham
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Waiting by Ha Jin

1999

Bookend Awards Launched

The Bookend Awards are launched to recognize a writer’s outstanding contributions to Texas literature

Bookend Award Winner

Horton Foote

Two-page 1999 Texas Book Festival schedule showing sessions for Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7. Events span the House and Senate Chambers, Capitol Extension rooms, and Children’s programs. Featured speakers include Octavia Butler, Sandra Brown, Tom Grimes, Roy Blount Jr., Tim O’Brien, Jane Smiley, and Edward James Olmos, with topics ranging from Texas history and memoirs to fiction, food writing, and poetry.

Photograph from the 1999 Texas Book Festival showing a children’s book signing event. A young girl wearing a red paper crown watches an author sign her book titled Amber Brown Is Green with Envy by Paula Danziger. Around her, families and other children hold books and tote bags under bright daylight, capturing the lively, family-friendly spirit of the festival. — Paula Danzinger book signing

Black-and-white portrait of an older man with white hair, resting his chin on his hand and smiling gently at the camera. The lighting highlights his face against a dark background, creating a warm and thoughtful expression.

The Bookend Awards are launched to recognize a writer’s outstanding contributions to Texas literature

Horton Foote is the first-ever Bookend award recipient

Full-page 1999 Texas Book Festival advertisement sponsored by The New York Times. It promotes the festival dates (November 5–7 in Austin) and highlights readings by Sandra Brown, Mary Higgins Clark, Peter Matthiessen, and others, with Laura Bush listed as Honorary Chair. The poster also features event details for the First Edition Literary Gala, “Bon Appetit, Y’all” dinner, and the Authors Party, all benefiting Texas public libraries. — New York Times ad for Texas Book Festival

Poster for the 2000 Texas Book Festival, featuring a sepia-toned photograph titled South Rim with Agave by James Evans. A twisted desert tree and agave plant overlook a vast mountainous Texas landscape. The event took place November 10–12 at the State Capitol in Austin, chaired by First Lady Laura Bush and benefiting Texas public libraries, with featured authors listed below the image. — 2000 Festival Poster

First Lady Laura Bush seated in a large leather chair, resting her chin lightly on her hand while attentively watching something. The setting appears formal, with other attendees blurred in the background, suggesting an event or discussion in progress. — Laura Bush at the 2000 Texas Book Festival

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: In America by Susan Sontag

This page introduces illustrator and visual journalist Don Tate. It features a portrait of him and a detailed write-up describing his journey from working in advertising to becoming a children’s book illustrator. He discusses his inspirations (like Where the Wild Things Are), early work with The Perfection Learning Corporation, and eventual move to Austin to work for the Austin American-Statesman. The piece highlights his creative process, focus on multicultural themes, and lists selected published works including Grandma’s Teddy, Detective Max, and Say Hey! A Song of Willie Mays.

Article that stresses the importance of reading access for children, noting that events like the Texas Book Festival and public libraries play a vital role in developing literacy, curiosity, and family bonding through books.

features a photo of a “Libros en Español” display at Lovett Memorial Library, describing how Texas Book Festival grant funds helped create a new Spanish-language section for children and adults, supporting bilingual access and community engagement.

Newspaper clipping titled “Author! Author! Books are clear winner at festival,” featuring a large group photo of more than 100 authors gathered in the Texas State Capitol rotunda during the 2000 Texas Book Festival.

The article, written by Anne Morris, reflects on the event’s success despite political distractions, celebrating its literary focus and community spirit. It highlights Laura Bush as honorary chairman and praises the festival’s diversity of authors and ideas. Below the photo is a numbered key identifying each author pictured, including notable names like Rick Bass, Mary Willis Walker, Edward Swift, and Joe Lansdale.

Newspaper clipping titled “Texas Book Festival brings local, national talent to Central Texas” by Dot Fowler. The article features a photo of the Texas State Capitol and a smaller image of First Lady Laura Bush, the festival’s honorary chair. It describes the fifth annual Texas Book Festival as a celebration of literature that supports public libraries and showcases over 100 authors, including Texans and nationally recognized writers. Events include readings, signings, poetry, music, and family activities across the State Capitol and nearby tents.

2000

2000 Bookend Award Winner

John Graves

Elderly man wearing glasses and a checkered shirt sitting outdoors on a yellow chair, with trees and greenery in the background.

Colorful flyer promoting the 2000 Texas Book Festival with the headline “Words of Wisdom!” It features portraits and quotes from authors Bill Martin, Pat Mora, Elaine Scott, and Lori Williams. Each quote celebrates the joy of reading, paired with bright star graphics. The event details note it’s free and held November 11–12, 1999, at the Texas State Capitol, benefiting Texas public libraries. Sponsored by the Austin American-Statesman and the Texas Book Festival. — Austin American-Statesman ad

Featured Authors

Two-page black-and-white schedule for the 2000 Texas Book Festival. It outlines author sessions, readings, and panels for Saturday, November 11, and Sunday, November 12, held across multiple rooms in the Texas Capitol and Capitol Extension. The grid lists featured authors, topics, and children’s programming blocks at the bottom. — 2000 Festival Schedule of Events

Newspaper clipping titled “Fertile soil for storytelling,” featuring photos of writers Mary Karr, Ron Rozelle, Joe Lansdale, Jane Roberts Wood, and Edward Swift. The article, written by Janet Wilson for the Austin American-Statesman, explores how East Texas’s landscape, language, and culture shaped these authors’ storytelling. It highlights their shared roots and appearances at the fifth annual Texas Book Festival, emphasizing the region’s influence on their vivid, character-driven narratives.

Two-sided bookmark promoting the 2000 Texas Book Festival, held November 10–12 in Austin. Front: Features James Evans’ photograph “South Rim with Agave” and festival details. Notes that proceeds benefit Texas public libraries, with AT&T as the festival underwriter. A message highlights that a $2,500 Texas Book Festival grant can often double a library’s book budget.

Two-sided bookmark promoting the 2000 Texas Book Festival, held November 10–12 in Austin. Back: Lists facts about Texas libraries — 535 public libraries serve 18 million citizens, yet Texas ranks 47th nationally in materials spending. Since 1996, the festival has granted nearly $890,000 to 325 libraries, providing an estimated 25,450 new books. Supported by the Texas State Library & Archives Commission and the Texas Library Association.

Official poster for the 2001 Texas Book Festival, held November 15–18 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
The design features two soft-focus artworks by Kate Breakey: a golden-hued bird titled Common Yellowthroat Warbler and a vivid magenta Thistle. The layout is elegant and minimal, with refined serif typography noting First Lady Laura Bush as honorary chairman. The poster promotes the festival’s mission of benefiting Texas public libraries. — 2001 Festival Poster

Author! Author! program is established

The Author! Author! program is established by Mary Margaret Farabee and Amy Sawtelle, bringing nationally recognized authors into Austin area Title I schools and giving every student a free, signed book by the author.

Colorful Austin American-Statesman ad for the 2001 Texas Book Festival, themed “Read & Bloom.”
Held November 17–18, 2001, at the Texas State Capitol, this illustrated poster highlights featured children’s authors, including:
• John R. Erickson (Hank the Cowdog)
• Carmen Tafolla
• Stuart Murphy (Let’s Fly a Kite!)
• Carol Lynch Williams (Carolina Autumn)
• Rafe Martin (The Shark God)
• Don Tate II (Say Hey! A Song of Willie Mays)

The ad features hand-drawn floral and reading-themed illustrations, plus printed and autographed signatures from the featured authors. It promotes free admission and celebrates storytelling, imagination, and literacy for young readers.

Back side, titled “Texas Library Facts,” highlights statewide library statistics: – 539 public libraries serving 18.3 million Texans (93% of the population) – $2.16 per capita spending vs. a $3.56 national average – Texas ranks 47th in materials expenditures and 46th in circulation costs – Since 1996, over $1 million in grants have funded 394 libraries, adding approximately 32,570 new books statewide. Supported by the Texas State Library & Archives Commission and Texas Library Association.

2001

Featured Authors

Two-page schedule of events for the 2001 Texas Book Festival, held November 17–18 at the Texas State Capitol. Saturday, November 17: Featured sessions included the Bookend Award Ceremony, panels like The Creative Process, Partners in Crime, and Stories in Song: Texas Songwriters, plus appearances by David McCullough, Kinky Friedman, and Bud Shrake. Events spanned topics from history and fiction to food writing and poetry, concluding with live music by Kinky Friedman, Who Do, Mike Blakely, and others.

Sunday, November 18: Highlights included Lance Armstrong & Sally Jenkins, Elizabeth McCracken, Lawrence Block, and Jimmy Santiago Baca. Panels covered subjects like Texas Writers: The Next Generation, The Art of Book Design, From Manuscript to Marketing, and A Tribute to Willie Morris. The festival closed with performances by local musicians.

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

Full-page Texas Monthly ad for the 2001 Texas Book Festival, held November 15–18 in Austin. It features artwork Indigo Bunting and Sunflower by Kate Breakey and highlights 140+ author events, the Bookend Award Ceremony, and special programs like Bon Appétit, Y’all and the Literary Gala. Sponsored by AT&T, Barnes & Noble, and Microsoft. — Texas Monthly ad

2001 Bookend Award Recipients

Smiling man wearing brown glasses, a blue collared shirt, and a dark jacket

Dr. William Goetzmann

Marcus Stanley smiling wearing black glasses and a tuxedo

Stanley Marcus

Poster for the 2002 Texas Book Festival, held November 14–17 in Austin. Features vibrant folk art by Carmen Lomas Garza depicting a woman, flowers, and a bird. Highlights include a long list of featured authors and the festival’s ongoing support of Texas public libraries under First Lady Laura Bush as Honorary Chairman. — 2002 Festival Poster

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Empire Falls by Richard Russo
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Three Junes by Julia Glass

Featured Authors

2002 Texas Book Festival Schedule

View Schedule

2002

2002 Bookend Award Recipients

Elderly man smiling outdoors in a black-and-white portrait, wearing a zip-up jacket over a collared shirt, with trees blurred in the background.

Bud Shrake

Middle-aged man with glasses and a beard sitting with his hands clasped, wearing a patterned short-sleeve shirt and jeans, photographed outdoors in natural light.

Bill Witliff

An author reads “The Runaway Tortilla” to a group of children seated on the floor in a school library. The kids appear engaged and smiling, with bookshelves and computers visible in the background. — Author!Author! Program visit: Eric Kimmel at Zilker Elementary

Festival Recorded Session: Master of the Senate

Poster for the 2003 Texas Book Festival, held November 6–9 in Austin. The design features Melina Hammer’s painting Red Leaves and Canna, with a long list of featured authors printed along both sides. The event supported Texas public libraries under the honorary chairmanship of First Lady Laura Bush. — 2003 Festival Poster

Newspaper clipping titled “Rain doesn’t shelve interest in festival” covering the 2003 Texas Book Festival in Austin. The article describes large crowds despite wet weather and highlights events such as Dave Barry and Roy Blount Jr.’s discussion at the Paramount Theatre and performances by the Rock Bottom Remainders. A photo shows Barry and Blount speaking on stage.

Festival Recorded Session: Charlie Wilson’s War

2003 Bookend Award Recipients

Elderly man with glasses wearing a tan blazer, light blue shirt, and bolo tie, seated indoors and smiling while holding a pen.

Shelby Hearon

Woman with short brown hair and glasses smiling warmly, resting her hand on her cheek, dressed in a dark blazer over a light satin blouse.

Elmer Kelton

2003

Children gather on colorful mats and pillows for an after-school story time at Waskom Public Library. A woman dressed as a witch and another holding a ghost puppet engage the group, surrounded by bookshelves and a cheerful “Your World” wall display. — Photo of a storytime at a library that received a Texas Library Grant and used it to build a children’s section

Promotional image for The Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band made up of well-known authors. It features group members including Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Roy Blount Jr., Kathi Goldmark, Greg Iles, Roger McGuinn, Ridley Pearson, Amy Tan, and Scott Turow, posed playfully in front of a colorful tour bus on a beach. — Author Party Newspaper Ad

Two-page event schedule for the 2003 Texas Book Festival, held November 8–9 at the Texas State Capitol. Each day’s grid lists author panels, readings, and discussions across multiple rooms and tents, with sessions covering fiction, poetry, food writing, photography, and children’s books. Notable participants include Barbara Bush, Kinky Friedman, Ann Richards, and H.W. Brands.

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard

Festival Recorded Session: Reflections: Life After the White House

Official 2004 Texas Book Festival poster featuring artwork titled Twins by Julie Speed. The design shows two stylized figures with flames above their heads under the tagline “Ignite Your Imagination,” promoting the festival held October 28–31 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin. — 2004 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Known World by Edward P. Jones
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The News from Paraguay by Lily Tuck

2004

2004 Bookend Award Recipients

Woman holding a wooden award box next to a man in a suit reading from a paper during an indoor ceremony, with ornate decor in the background.

Mary Margaret Farabee

Larry L. King

Smiling woman handing a wooden award box to an older man during a ceremony, with an American flag and a portrait visible in the background.

Walt McDonald

Austin American Statesman Program

The 2004 Texas Book Festival program includes the full weekend schedule, children’s lineup, maps, and acknowledgments. It highlights keynote authors like Larry L. King and Walt McDonald, features by artist Julie Speed, and detailed listings for readings, panels, and special events across the Texas State Capitol grounds.

Official 2005 Texas Book Festival poster celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary. The artwork, No Secret by Lance Letscher, features a vibrant collage of colorful paper strips and circular patterns. The event took place October 28–30, 2005, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, benefiting Texas public libraries. — 2005 festival poster

Featured Authors

Alt text: 2005 Texas Book Festival printed schedule showing a two-day grid layout for October 29 and 30, listing author panels, readings, and children’s events by time slot and venue, including the Paramount Theatre, Capitol rooms, and entertainment sections. — Schedule of events for 2005 festival

Two-page spread from the 2005 Texas Book Festival program showing maps of the Texas State Capitol grounds and interior levels, exhibitor lists, and event details for the Young Readers and Writers section.

Staff Easter Egg

In kindergarten, our librarian announced we’d be visited by an actual author. I was thrilled. The day arrived, and the library buzzed with excitement. The author was animated and warm, leading us through songs, activities, and I left feeling like reading became something personal and magical. I cherished the book we received that day—it symbolized a moment of pure joy. Twenty years later, during my interview at Texas Book Festival, I realized that special author visit had been part of the Reading Rock Stars program. It felt like a full-circle moment. Now, I’m proud to be part of a team that believes in the power of reading and works to share the magic it has brought us individually, with the world.
— Becky Gomez, Digital Content & Design Coordinator

2005

2005 Bookend Award Recipients

Black-and-white portrait of a woman with long wavy hair, wearing large circular earrings and a confident smile, looking over her shoulder toward the camera.

Sandra Cisneros

Black-and-white portrait of an older man wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a striped tie, posed in front of a stone wall background.

T.R. Fehrenbach

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Europe Central by William T. Vollmann

Keynote with Bill Clinton

Poster for the 2006 Texas Book Festival featuring the theme “An Unfolding Narrative” with abstract collage art of billboards, concentric circles, and communication towers in beige and muted red tones. — 2006 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

2006 Bookend Award Recipients

Bill Broyles

Man with short light hair wearing a dark collared shirt, posing outdoors against a rocky background.

Greg Curtis

Mike Levy

Man wearing glasses, a dark suit, light blue shirt, and red patterned tie, smiling in front of a teal background.

Evan Smith

2006

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: March by Geraldine Brooks
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Echo Maker by Richard Powers

Cover of the 2006 Texas Book Festival Program and Event Guide featuring abstract geometric artwork of layered urban structures in muted yellows and grays with the text “Texas Book Festival: An Unfolding Narrative” in bold green and red type. — 2006 Festival Program Cover

$1M in Grants Boost Texas Library Collections

Thanks to funding from Texas Library Grants, over $1 million was awarded to public libraries across the state—strengthening collections, expanding access, and supporting lifelong learning in every corner of Texas.

2007 Texas Book Festival poster featuring a sepia photograph of riders on horseback crossing a river under a pale sky, framed by ornate Western-style typography and decorative borders. — 2007 Festival Poster

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson

Alt text: Sepia-toned cover for the 2007 Texas Book Festival program featuring clouds above the Texas State Capitol dome with ornate vintage typography reading “2007 Texas Book Festival, November 3rd & 4th, Austin, Texas.” — 2007 festival program cover

2007 Texas Book Festival event schedule showing a detailed grid of author panels and sessions by time and location, printed in beige and brown tones with small author portraits and a sepia photograph of horses at the bottom.

Staff Easter Egg

2007 marks my first Texas Book Festival upon my return to Austin after my Peace Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA journeys. I attended a session inside the Capitol that led me to a deeper understanding of oral-histories. But more importantly, in 2012, I brought my 2-year-old son to the Texas Book Festival where he saw his favorite picture book author, Anna Dewdney live-illustrating from Llama Llama Time to Share! He was mesmerized. I’ve carried that moment with me ever since, and I still find so much joy in watching him experience that same sense of wonder at the Festival year after year. I hope our team can create those special moments for families forevermore.
— Marianne DeLeón

2007

Featured Authors

2007 Bookend Award Recipients

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling man with medium-length hair wearing a striped shirt, leaning back casually with his hand raised near his face.

Dagoberto Gilb

Older man in a dark suit, white shirt, and striped tie standing in a sunlit stone corridor, looking directly at the camera with a composed expression.

Rolando Smith-Hinojosa

2007 Special Events Listing

2007 Texas Book Festival sponsors and schedule of events flyer listing the Opening Event at the Ransom Center and the First Edition Literary Gala, with vintage-style design and decorative typography.

2007 Texas Book Festival schedule page detailing additional events including Authors Coffee, Opening Ceremony, Authors Party, and Ralph Lauren Brunch, presented in a simple text layout on a white background.

Alt text: 2008 Texas Book Festival poster featuring a bold painting of sunflowers and thistles in a vase by artist David Bates, with colorful block lettering spelling “Texas Book Festival” below and event details noting November 1–2, 2008 at the Texas State Capitol Grounds. — 2008 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

Four smiling panelists stand together in front of the State of Texas seal at the Texas Book Festival. Name placards in front identify Rubén Degollado and Dalia Azim. The group wears festival badges and stands behind a wooden desk in a formal setting.

Staff Easter Egg

I attended my first Texas Book Festival in 2008 and have been a devoted attendee since. The 2022 Festival was a special one for me. I had just joined the TBF team three weeks prior, and as my debut novel had been published earlier in the year, I was lucky enough to be a featured author at that Festival as well. I wore many hats that year, learning the ropes as a staffer and helping to realize the event behind the scenes, while also appearing on two panels with writers I greatly admire: Writers’ League of Texas Presents: Texas Debut Novelists, with Katie Gutierrez and LaToya Watkins, and Family Tree: Multigenerational Sagas, with Jamie Ford and Rubén Degollado
— Dalia Azim, Chief Operations Officer

2008

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen

Continuation of the author list featuring names like Reed Bunzel, Robert Caro, Andre Dubus III, and Marc Eliot, along with their corresponding book titles.

More authors listed, including Lawrence Estaville, Alexandra Fuller, Jeff Gusky, Andrew Sean Greer, and Gene Fowler, each paired with book titles.

Additional authors such as Mark Harris, Amanda Hesser, Kathleen Kent, and Robert Leleux, with titles like Eat, Memory and The Heretic’s Daughter.

Author list continues with names like David Liss, Lisa Margonelli, Jane Mayer, Tom Miller, and Joe Nick Patoski, and titles spanning politics, culture, and biography.

Final pages of main author list including Mark Jude Poirier, Francine Prose, Reihan Salam, Bud Shrake, and Bapsi Sidhwa, followed by totals and children’s author section.

Beginning of children’s author list including Jon Agee, Kathi Appelt, T.A. Barron, Laurent de Brunhoff, and Shana Burg.

Conclusion of children’s author list featuring writers like Robin Preiss Glasser, Yuyi Morales, Jennifer Nails, and Susan Orlean, with book titles such as Los Gatos Black on Halloween and Lazy Little Loafers.

Investing in Stories That Matter

Texas Library Grants awarded over $2 million to strengthen collections in public libraries across the state—fueling access, discovery, and lifelong learning for Texans of all ages.

Black-and-white photograph of a barn owl perched in soft focus with a blurred human figure in the background. Text reads “14th Annual Texas Book Festival, October 31–November 1, 2009, at the Texas State Capitol,” featuring artwork White Owl 2004 by Keith Carter. — 2009 festival poster

Featured Authors

A Decade of Stories for Teens

The Texas Book Festival launched the Texas Teen Book Festival to spotlight middle-grade and young adult voices—offering ten years of author events, panels, and programming created just for teen readers.

2009

A printed program grid for Saturday’s Texas Book Festival events, displaying author talks, panels, and book titles arranged by hour and venue, with thumbnail book covers and headshots.

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Bright, collage-style poster reading “The Texas Book Festival 15th Anniversary,” with colorful cut-out letters and vintage airplane imagery on a textured paper background. — 2010 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

2010

Michele Norris in Conversation with Isabel Wilkerson

Two-day printed schedule listing author events, book titles, and times across multiple venues, with thumbnail photos and book covers. — 2010 Schedule of Events

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Tinkers by Paul Harding
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon

Poster for the 2011 Texas Book Festival featuring Marc Burckhardt’s painting “Full Cry,” showing a dark horse galloping across an open field with a fiery mane and tail trailing behind it. The bottom section lists festival details: October 22–23 at the Texas State Capitol, with Laura Bush as honorary chair and sponsors along the bottom edge. — 2011 Festival Poster

Three men stand together inside a formal hall with red draped curtains and white columns. All are wearing suits with festival badges around their necks. The man on the right claps with a smile while the other two stand beside him, also smiling, under the ornate backdrop of the Texas State Capitol setting. — Featured Authors: Stephen Harrigan, Evan Smith, Larry Wright

Featured Authors

Stephen Harrigan, Evan Smith, Larry Wright

Lit Crawl is established!

This after-dark celebration of reading showcases Festival authors in unique, engaging formats. Programming includes readings, storytelling sessions, and literary-themed games.

2011 Austin American-Statesman Texas Book Festival cover – Newspaper cover for the Austin Review of Books featuring a weathered cowboy hat with a large embossed book resting inside it. The text reads “Your Guide to The Texas Book Festival.” Below are portraits and teasers for authors Daniel Woodrell, Chuck Klosterman, Erin Morgenstern, and Paula Deen.

2011 Austin American-Statesman Texas Book Festival critics’ picks spread – Two-page newspaper spread titled “Murder, Mother Teresa, sex offenders and more,” with book reviews and a festival schedule grid highlighting author sessions. Includes critic headshots and listings for authors such as H.W. Brands, Susan Orlean, Tom Perrotta, and Colson Whitehead.

2011

Texas Book Festival 2011 Saturday schedule, part 2 – Continuation of the event grid featuring sessions in additional venues like the Family Life Center and Capitol Extension rooms, highlighting panels on fiction, history, and children’s literature.

Texas Book Festival 2011 Saturday schedule, part 4 – Section featuring the Music Tent lineup, technology sessions, film screenings at the Alamo Drafthouse, and evening Lit Crawl events across Austin.

Texas Book Festival 2011 Saturday schedule, part 5 – Final section listing additional Lit Crawl venues and events, including live readings and storytelling shows at locations like Cheer Up Charlie’s and Public School.

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Texas Book Festival 2011 gala invitation featuring Marc Burckhardt’s artwork Prize Cow at the top, showing a brown-and-white cow against a pastoral backdrop. The text below announces the 16th annual Texas Book Festival, held October 22–23, 2011, with a First Edition Literary Gala on October 21 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. The event includes a cocktail reception, dinner, and author presentations by Susan Orlean, Jim Lehrer, and Molly Shannon, emceed by Jon Scieszka. — 2011 Gala Info Cover Sheet

Illustrated poster for the 2012 Texas Book Festival featuring barn swallows soaring over a dramatic mountain landscape with winding rivers below. The muted earth tones contrast with the birds’ vivid blue wings and rust-colored throats. Text at the bottom reads: “Texas Book Festival 2012 – October 27–28, Texas State Capitol, Laura Bush Honorary Chair, Benefiting Texas Libraries and Literacy.” Artwork by Marcée Crisp titled Cliff Swallows. — 2012 festival poster

Featured Authors

2012 Texas Book Festival Schedule (page 1) – A printed schedule listing Texas Book Festival events from January through June 2012, including author talks, film screenings, and collaborative events with Texas Monthly, Kirkus Reviews, and the Austin Film Festival. Featured participants include Denton Cooley, Charlie Newton, Marc Updegrove, and Alexandra Styron.

2012 Texas Book Festival Schedule (page 2) – Continuation of the schedule from July through November 2012, listing events such as the poster reveal in September, the First Edition Literary Gala on October 26, the main festival weekend (October 27–28), and post-festival appearances including Alex Danchev discussing Cezanne: A Life.

Bookend Award

The Bookend Award name changes to Texas Writer Award!

2012

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for History (no award given for Fiction in 2012): Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Cover – Texas Book Festival 2012 Gala – Illustrated poster featuring a heron catching a small snake in its beak against a muted green-blue background. Text below announces the “First Edition Literary Gala” at the AT&T Conference Center, University of Texas, on Friday, October 26.

Welcome Page – Event schedule for the 2012 First Edition Literary Gala, including reception, dinner, and author presentations. Featured authors listed: Michel Martin, Robert Caro, Tony Danza, and Cheryl Strayed. The left side repeats Margie Crisp’s illustrated Cliff Swallows art.

Thank You & Bios Page – Left side thanks H-E-B as presenting sponsor and lists gala chairs. Right side provides bios for Michel Martin, Robert Caro, Tony Danza, and Cheryl Strayed, who were featured presenters.

Auction & BidPal Page – Details for the Gala’s silent auction and digital bidding system. Left column outlines bidding rules and payment terms; right column gives step-by-step instructions for using the BidPal device.

17 Years / Awards Page – Left side celebrates 17 years of Texas libraries and literacy, describing grant and youth programs. Right side lists award recipients, including Tim O’Brien (Texas Writer Award) and Amy Roberts (Jan Hughes Volunteer Award).

Sponsors Page – List of board members, advisory council, and staff for the Texas Book Festival. Sponsor logos include H-E-B, Barnes & Noble, Texas Monthly, Pearson, Google, OverDrive, and others.

Featured Artist Page – Artwork of an oil pump jack under a cloudy sky and moonlight. Text below profiles 2012 featured artist Margie Crisp, describing her creative process, background, and her book River of Contrasts: The Texas Colorado.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 7 – Final section highlighting the festival’s mission, literacy programs, and Reading Rock Stars initiative, alongside author listings for Ayad Akhtar, Katherine Applegate, Gustavo Arellano, Lou Berney, Jeff Biggers, and others.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 6 – Program continues with H.W. Brands, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Robert Caro, Tony Danza, Margie Crisp, Justin Cronin, James Donovan, Robert Draper, and others, with descriptions of featured books and times.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 5 – Listings for Jessica Dupuy, Damien Echols, Kurt Eichenwald, John Eisenberg, Gilbert Garcia, Jesse Griffiths, Liz Gutman, and Tad Hills, organized by author with book title, location, and signing times.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 4 – Includes authors Henry Horenstein, Jewel, Jacqueline Kelly, Jenny Lawson, Joe Lansdale, Marie Lu, Katherine Losse, and Leonard Marcus, along with panel topics, times, and signing tents.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 3 – Features authors Domingo Martinez, Lisa McMann, Bryan Mealer, Tim O’Brien, Hugo Ortega, Julie Otsuka, Dan Rather, Adam Rex, and Steven Rinella among others, with event details and signing schedules.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 2 – Author lineup continues with Eric Rohmann, Lynda Rutledge, Rene Saldaña Jr., Philip C. Stead, Rebecca Stead, Maggie Stiefvater, and more, each with session and signing information.

2012 Texas Book Festival program spread 1 – Grid layout of author headshots and listings including Cheryl Strayed, Ian Stevens, Rachel L. Swarns, Don Tate, and others. Each author’s section includes book titles, session details, and signing times.

Photo of an empty two-lane highway stretching into the distance across a flat Texas landscape under a cloudy sky. Text at the bottom reads “Texas Book Festival 2013,” with credits to photographer Randal Ford for “Heading South, Hwy 67, 2006.” — 2013 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

2013

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

A detailed two-day grid schedule of author sessions and events for the 2013 Texas Book Festival, organized by time and venue. A note at the bottom credits H-E-B as sponsor of the Children’s Chapter. — 2013 Festival Schedule of Events

Five smiling volunteers stand inside the Texas Book Festival merchandise tent. They display festival items including a mug, water bottle, T-shirt, and red cap. Behind them are shelves stocked with neatly folded shirts and other festival merchandise featuring the 2013 poster image of a Texas highway stretching into the horizon. — Volunteers holding up festival merchandise

Cover of the 2013 Texas Book Festival program titled “Schedule and Maps.” The image features “El Capitan” by photographer Randal Ford, showing a golden mountain peak under a dramatic Texas sky. Text below lists the event dates, October 26–27, and location at the Texas State Capitol, noting Laura Bush as Honorary Chair and that proceeds benefit Texas libraries and literacy.

2014 Texas Book Festival poster featuring a nighttime photo of the Texas Theatre with its neon marquee glowing red, turquoise, and yellow. Text below reads “TXBOOKFEST 2014 Texas Book Festival.” — 2014 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

Newspaper cover titled “Austin Review of Books” with a playful photo of a woman leaping in front of a mural reading “I love you so much,” holding a book and a paper. Side column lists featured authors including Lidia Bastianich, Marlon James, and Melissa de la Cruz. — Austin Review of Books cover

Two-page program spread titled “Texas Book Festival Benefiting Libraries and Literacy” and “Festival Highlights.” The left page describes TBF’s grants and reading programs, with a grayscale image of a moth and a feature on photographer Dan Winters. The right page outlines festival highlights, rules, and accessibility information.

2014

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Redeployment by Phil Klay
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: Euphoria by Lily King

Reading Rock Stars

Reading Rock Stars expands to serve students in Houston!

Poster for the 2014 Texas Book Festival’s First Edition Literary Gala featuring a grayscale photograph of a bee with its wings outstretched against a black background. Text below lists featured authors Martin Amis, Mac Barnett, Walter Mosley, and Lidia Bastianich, with Adrian Todd Zuniga as emcee. The event is noted as a black-tie gala held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin on October 24, 2014, benefiting Texas libraries and literacy. — Gala Poster

Page from the Texas Book Festival program titled “Lit Crawl!” listing events across multiple Austin venues with descriptions, times, and addresses for each literary performance and reading. — Lit Crawl newspaper clipping

Painting of a young person in a black coat with brass buttons and a yellow headscarf, holding a small bird perched on their hand beside a nest of eggs and striped flowers. Text below celebrates 20 years of the Texas Book Festival, noting the event dates, location at the Texas State Capitol, and the artwork title The Naturalist by Fatima Ronquillo. — 2015 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

Double-page timeline design with color-coded panels and photographs spanning 1995 to 2015, highlighting major festival milestones, featured speakers, and literacy achievements.

Staff Easter Egg

The year was 2015. Adele’s “Hello” was topping the charts, everyone was obsessed with the Live, Laugh, Love meme, and Rick Yancey was a featured author at the Texas Book Festival. I couldn’t believe I was getting the chance to actually meet him; to me, authors were super stars from another planet – famous, dazzling, and decidedly not human. I spent my time in the signing line working up the courage to talk to him, and as I shakily handed him my copy of The 5th Wave, I was shocked when he kindly and enthusiastically struck up a conversation. This conversation taught me that, yes – authors are famous and dazzling. But they are also human, eager to connect with and inspire their readers. The wonder I felt while meeting one of my favorite authors would not have been possible without the Texas Book Festival.
— Madeline Sweany, Events & Logistics Coordinator

2015

20th Anniversary

Staff Easter Egg

My first Texas Book Festival experience was in 2015 when my daughter and her classmates were invited to introduce an author in the Read Me a Story tent at the Festival that fall and again two years later. We were instantly enraptured by the event and loved attending every year. In 2021 during my first week as a Texas Book Festival staffer, I attended my first Reading Rock Stars school visit at Govalle Elementary. I had the great luck of spending that morning with awesome authors Nicholas Solis and Gloria Amescua, beloved TBF volunteer Minnie Hollyman, and hundreds of Halloween costume-clad Austin kids. I can’t think of a more joyful or heart-filling way to start a new job!
— Michelle Hernandez, Director of Youth Programs

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Fortune Smiles: Stories by Adam Johnson
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Jacksonland

2016 Texas Book Festival poster – Black-and-white illustration of a cowboy on horseback atop a cliff, with dramatic rock formations below. Text at the bottom reads “Texas Book Festival 2016,” featuring artwork On the Devil’s Backbone by Jack Unruh. — 2016 Festival Poster

Texas Library Grants and Reading Rock Stars overview – Two-page spread detailing the festival’s literacy initiatives, featuring a Texas map showing grant numbers and a photo of an author reading to children.

Featured Authors

2016

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: The Sport of Kings by C.E. Morgan

The Terror Years

Texas Book Festival 2016 schedule grid – Two-page festival schedule showing Saturday and Sunday event times, tent names, and session details arranged in a color-coded table.

A large cactus in a field of agave plants with hills and a hazy sky in the background. — 2017 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

Real Reads Launches

The Real Reads Program is launched, modeled after Reading Rock Stars, bringing nationally recognized authors to underserved youth in middle school, high school and college!

Author Discussion on the #MeToo Movement

Author Discussion on the Middle Class

2017

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: What is means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Aramah

Tom Hanks sits in chair on stage engaging in a conversation.

A heart made of books with the phrase "AUSTIN IS FOR BOOK LOVERS" below, promoting the Texas Book Festival.

Tom Hanks at Texas Book Festival

Poster for the Texas Book Festival 2018 featuring abstract trees with swirling bark and blossoms, set against a colorful background. — 2018 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

Promotional graphic for the Texas Book Festival with a stack of books topped by a capitol dome on a green background.

2018

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Less by Andrew Sean Greer
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: Severance by Ling Ma

Grid schedule showing all sessions for both days of the 2018 Texas Book Festival

$3M Invested in Texas Libraries

Texas Library Grants gave over $3M to enhance collections in public libraries across the state

Poster for the Texas Book Festival 2019 with crumpled mountain-like textures in gold, red, and brown. — 2019 Festival Poster

Illustration of a bookshelf shaped like Texas filled with books, next to the Texas Capitol dome.

Double page spread in the Austin American Statesman with featured authors

Double page spread in the Austin American Statesman about inspiring young readers

Featured Authors

2019

Texas Book Festival 2019: The Full Lineup

Full List of Authors

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Overstory by Richard Powers
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Poster for Texas Book Festival 2020 with a person riding a large horned lizard. — 2020 Festival Poster

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: Luster by Raven Leilani

Happy 25th Anniversary!

25 years and still reading

2020

25th Anniversary

Featured Authors

100,000 Students Inspired by Reading Rock Stars

Since 2001, Reading Rock Stars has brought the magic of books to life for over 100,000 Texas students. Through author visits and free books, the program continues to spark imaginations and build lifelong readers across the state.

American-Statesman Guide to TBF + 25th Anniversary celebration

Texas Book Festival 2021 poster featuring a vibrant river scene with people engaging in activities like tubing, fishing, and reading around a lively riverside environment. — 2021 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

2021

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: Harrow by Joy Williams

Hybrid Festival

The Festival is hybrid after being completely online in 2020

Floating newspapers against a blue sky with the Texas Book Festival 2022 banner below. — 2022 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

The Trayvon Generation

Texas Book Festival honors page of the 2022 program

2022

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family by Joshua Cohen
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: Trust by Hernan Diaz

Stylized illustration of a person reading with geometric shapes for Texas Book Festival 2023. — 2023 Festival Poster

Featured Authors

Austin Chronicle Program for Texas Book Festival 2023

Staff Easter Egg

I’ll never forget the 2023 Texas Book Festival. I was at the Paramount Theatre with my intern, Madison, when a message came through the staff group chat that an author had left her wallet behind, and she was preparing to board her flight. I hesitated for a minute, then looked at my intern sort of deadpan and said, “We have to go to the airport.” We booked it out of downtown to Austin Bergstrom. The author was very grateful and made her flight on time!
— Jose Rodriguez, Communications & Public Relations Manager

The Heat Will Kill You First

Expanding Reading Rock Stars

Reading Rock Stars expands to serve students in El Paso!

2023

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: Blackouts by Justin Torres
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Four people in formal attire on a stage with blue-lit curtains. — Headliner photo: Ann Patchett, Roger Reeves, Abraham Verghese

Author Discussion on Women in Science

Four people stand in front of banner reading Leamos while getting their photo taken.

Launch of a new tent

Leamos: Hispanic and Latine Writers & Literature in Spanish

2024 Texas Book Festival poster featuring an illustration by Zeke Peña. The artwork shows three people—two adults and a child—nurturing a large cactus that grows from an open book. A bird flies above, and a jaguar sits nearby. Text below reads “Texas Book Festival / Feria del Libro de Tejas 2024 – Free and open to all – Gratuita y abierta para todos,” with event details listed along the bottom. — 2024 festival poster

Malcolm Gladwell

Featured Authors

Headliner photo: Bret Anthony Johnston, Cristina Rivera Garza, Claire Messud, Emcee: Mark Updegrove

Close-up of a round table with children’s books, a small floral arrangement, and a sign that reads “Help bring Reading Rock Stars to San Marcos!”

Woman speaking at a Reading Rock Stars event, holding a children’s book while standing beside a blue Texas Book Festival sign and a TV screen displaying an author portrait.

Cover: Illustrated poster for the 2024 Texas Book Festival / Feria del Libro de Tejas. Art by Zeke Peña shows three people gathered around a large cactus growing from a book, with a bird above. Text reads “Free and open to all / Gratuita y abierta para todos.”

Interior spread from the 2024 Texas Book Festival program featuring a multi-column list of authors, book titles, session descriptions, and event times in a grid layout with color highlights and small author photos throughout.

2024

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: James by Percival Everett
Kirkus Prize Winner for Fiction: James by Percival Everett

New Monochrome Logo

“But what you give up in a world of uniformity is resilience.”
— Malcolm Gladwell, Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering

Paola Ramos and Isaac Arnsdorf

Reading Rock Stars expands to serve students in San Marcos!

2025

Special thanks to the Heritage Tourism Division of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, Pentagram, Stu Taylor, the TBF Staff and Board for helping us celebrate 30 great years!

This Year in Literary History

Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction: James by Percival Everett
National Book Award Winner for Fiction: 2025 Winner to be announced 11/19
Kikrus Prize Finalists for Fiction: 2025 Winner to be announced 10/08

Opening Books, Opening Minds Since 1995

Texas Book Festival is established as a 501-3(C) organization.

1995

This Year in Literary History

Austin Chronicle

Texas Monthly

1996

Marion Winik

Larry L. King

Featured Authors

Texas Library Grants was founded

This Year in Literary History

Festival Schedule

1997

This Year in Literary History

Larry McMurtry

Diana Ossana

Featured Authors

The Voice of the Writer

Texas Book Festival accepts out-of-state authors!

This Year in Literary History

1998

Rick Riordian

Abraham Verghese

Featured Authors

Octavia Butler

Louis Sachar

Featured Authors

Staff Easter Egg

This Year in Literary History

1999

Bookend Awards Launched

Bookend Award Winner

The Bookend Awards are launched to recognize a writer’s outstanding contributions to Texas literature

This Year in Literary History

2000

2000 Bookend Award Winner

Maria Hinojosa

Mary Karr

Featured Authors

Author! Author! program is established

2001

Kinky Friedman

Sarah Bird

Featured Authors

This Year in Literary History

2001 Bookend Award Recipients

This Year in Literary History

Sandra Cisneros

Dagoberto Gilb

Featured Authors

2002 Texas Book Festival Schedule

2002

2002 Bookend Award Recipients

Festival Recorded Session: Master of the Senate

Festival Recorded Session: Charlie Wilson’s War

2003 Bookend Award Recipients

2003

This Year in Literary History

Festival Recorded Session: Reflections: Life After the White House

Featured Authors

Pam Willeford

Sara Hickman

This Year in Literary History

2004

2004 Bookend Award Recipients

Austin American Statesman Program

Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Jane Smiley

Featured Authors

Staff Easter Egg

2005

2005 Bookend Award Recipients

This Year in Literary History

Keynote with Bill Clinton

H.W. Brands

Colm Tóibín

Featured Authors

2006 Bookend Award Recipients

2006