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Keystone Keynote Tent (Adult Programming)
1:30 PM - 4:15 PM
Propulsive, lyrical, and richly illustrated, Texian Exodus transports us to the frigid, sodden spring of 1836, when thousands of Texians—Anglo-American settlers—fled eastward for the United States in fear of Antonio López de Santa Anna’s advancing Mexican army. Leading Texas historian Stephen L. Hardin draws on the accounts of the Runaways themselves to relate a tale of high stakes and great sorrow. While Houston tried to build a force that could defeat Santa Anna, the evacuees suffered incalculable pain and suffering. Yet dignity and community were not among the losses. If many of the stories are indeed tragic, the experience as a whole was no tragedy; survivors regarded the Runaway Scrape as their finest hour, an ordeal met with cooperation and courage. For Hardin, such qualities still define the Texas character. That it was forged in retreat as well as in battle makes the Runaway Scrape essential Texas history.
Texas History with Stephen Hardin
Moderated by Michael Barnes
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Nikki Loftin and Wendi Aarons share their writing and publishing tips, tricks, and tools. Anna Alsup, Regional Advisor for the Austin chapter of SCWBI, moderates the conversation. Perfect for aspiring authors!
Writing & Publishing with Nikki Loftin and Wendi Aarons
Moderated by Anna Alsup
2:30 - 3:15 PM
Comics about Motherhood with Grace Farris
Moderated by Maureen Turner Carey
3:30 - 4:15 PM
Beginning with one-day-old mom, who may feel like she is learning a new language, Mom Milestones is a love letter to the myriad ways moms grow and adapt to motherhood. Here are significant firsts: First sleepless night. First walk with baby. First mom friend. Skills learned—how to soothe baby (sometimes); how to coax a preschooler into taking medicine. Mom's likes (adapting pop songs to lullaby format; gathering intelligence from other moms) and dislikes (emptying the lunch box with mystery smells; requests for video games). There's Bedtime: The Board Game; crafts mom enjoys (no glitter or glue, thanks!); and the ABCs of motherhood (E for ennui).
While there might not be a road map for motherhood, Mom Milestones tracks both the memorable and slightly forgettable guideposts along the way—sunrises, snack plates, cuddles, laughter, and astonishment—because, as the saying goes, the days are long, but the years are short.
Fantastic Graphic Novels with
Ngozi Ukazu and Victoria Grace Elliott
Moderated by the Teen Advisory Board
2:00 - 2:45 PM
Barnes & Noble (YA and Adult Programming)
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In Bunt!, Molly Bauer's first year of college is not the picture-perfect piece of art she'd always envisioned. On day one at PICA, Molly discovers that―through some horrible twist of fate―her full-ride scholarship has vanished! But the ancient texts (PICA's dusty financial aid documents) reveal a loophole. If Molly and 9 other art students win a single game of softball, they'll receive a massive athletic scholarship. Can Molly's crew of ragtag artists succeed in softball without dropping the ball?
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Please Be My Star is a fun and unique reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera as a teen rom-com set in high school! Erika knows that people find her weird and off-putting. Instead of making friends, she finds solace in talking to herself and obsessing over handsome actors and pop stars. When she starts attending a new school, her loneliness takes on a life of its own and she develops a new obsession: the cutest boy in her theater class, Christian. For some reason, Christian is kind to her and even agrees to star in the play that she wrote for him, and Erika starts to find a creative voice that might lead to new friendship and romance. But the more time Erika spends with Christian, the more she wonders what he sees in a creep like her. Can Erika somehow write her way into the center of her own heartfelt love story? Or does Christian have an ending of his own in mind?
Buzzworthy Romance with
Sasha Summers, Sherry Thomas,
& Tracy Wolff
Moderated by Alyssa Morris
3:00 - 3:45 PM
Romance writers Sasha Summers, Sherry Thomas, and Tracy Wolff will chat about their different approaches to the genre with romance expert Alyssa Morris.
Bring your questions for the Q&A!
