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                                         www.etxbookfest.org

More than 50 Texas authors, including 12 award-winning authors who will headline as featured speakers, will be in Tyler for the 4th annual East Texas Book Fest on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Taking place at the UT Tyler Ornelas Activity Center, 3402 Old Omen Road, this year’s East Texas Book Fest land on National Literacy Day. Adults and children can come take part in all of the special events happening from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. as the Book Fest celebrates writers, books, reading, and libraries.

Featured speakers will lead workshops or discussions about their work and the art and craft of creating and publishing books.  Among this group are best-selling fiction writers Taylor Stevens and Reavis Wortham, political scientist Cal Jillson, historian Derek Catsam, folklorist Jerry Lincecum, and Hispanic writer for readers of all ages Carmen Tafolla. Keith Graves and Alan Stacy, both children’s books authors and illustrators, will work with event participants to prove that reading is fun and everyone can draw. Other speakers will talk about the latest phenomenon of Young Adult fiction;  Joy Preble and Varian Johnson will talk about their novels, and Marianne Dyson and Laura Edge will explain their research and approach to Young Adult Nonfiction.

In addition to those who will lead discussions and workshops, more than 40 more authors will display and sell their books and chat with East Texas Book Festival attendees throughout the day. These authors come from many areas of Texas - from as far away as Odessa and San Antonio and as nearby as next door."It's fun!  It's free! And it's here in Tyler!" says Book Fest Chair Dee Brock. "This year’s lineup of outstanding Texas authors is exceptional in quality and includes writers in a broad variety of genres for readers of all ages.” Attendees have the opportunity to meet authors, ask them questions, and learn about crafting, publishing, and promoting books. For the complete list of authors at Book Fest 2012, as well as their biographies, pictures, and a schedule of events, check the website at www.etxbookfest.org.

The East Texas Book Fest is presented by SALT, an organization of Smith County public libraries, the Lindale Library, Troup Municipal Library, Tyler Public Library, the Whitehouse Community Library, and the UT Tyler Muntz Library. Generous funding from the Smith County Library Foundation, the Junior League of Tyler, Friends of Smith County public libraries, and Humanities Texas, the state’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, make this event possible.