Editor’s note: This story was published through a partnership between KSAT and Live From the Southside, a new local- and Latina-owned mc agazine that works to improve & expand community relationships through promoting events, stories and businesses.
The second annual Southside Book Fair will be held on Nov. 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Come and meet local and Texas authors.
Esteemed and award-winning authors from the South Side and throughout Texas will be there to meet visitors and sign and sell their books.
The Twig Book Shop will be there selling books and promoting literacy. And, The Witte Museum will also be in attendance to share their local writers who have books at the museum.
The free and open-to-the-public event is being held at Brooster’s Backyard Ice House, located at 815 Pleasanton Road. There will be activities and readings for children at the pet-friendly location, which is always fun for the whole family.
The Southside Book Fair team includes author Alda Dobbs, author Susan McCauley, financial Professional Marcos Barrientos, Live from the Southside Publisher/CEO April Monterrosa, and Brooster’s and Colt’s Sports Park owner Norm Velez.
Featured Author Lineup:
Gloria Amescua (Ah MES qua) has been a writer since she was a child, writing poems and stories throughout her life. She loves books that reach a young person’s heart, head or funny bone and strives to do just that in her writing. Gloria’s debut picture book biography, “Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jim?nez, Daughter of the Nahua,” illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams Books), was awarded a Pura Belpr? Author Honor. It was also a co-winner of the Am?ricas Award, and received three International Latino Book Awards (English): Alda Flor Ada (Gold), Best Educational (Gold) and Most Inspirational (Bronze). Her book received three starred reviews and was also a 2022 SCBWI Golden Kite finalist. It was listed as a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, ALA Notable Books, SLJ’s Best Books 2021 and various other Best of Nonfiction/Informative lists for 2021/2022. Gloria is an educator, poet and children’s book writer.
Samantha M Clark – The award-winning author of “THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST” and “ARROW” (both published by Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster) and “AMERICAN HORSE TALES: HOLLYWOOD” (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House), as well as the “GEMSTONE DRAGONS” chapter book series (Bloomsbury). She lives with her husband and two funny dogs in Austin, Texas, where she helps other writers as the Regional Advisor for the Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Sign up for news and giveaways at www.SamanthaMClark.com.
Alda P. Dobbs – The author of the historical novels, “Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna” and its followup, “The Other Side of the River” (September 2022). Her debut novel received a Pura Belpre Honor and is a Texas Bluebonnet Master List selection. Alda was born in a small town in northern Mexico but moved to San Antonio, Texas as a child. She studied physics and worked as an engineer before pursuing her love of storytelling. She’s as passionate about connecting children to their past, their communities, different cultures and nature as she is about writing. Alda lives with her husband and two children outside Houston, Texas.
Leslie Lindsay – A diary keeper, a journalism major, a public relations executive, now a children’s author, Lindsay Leslie has always operated in a world of written words. She likes to bring her unique outlook on life, quirky humor, and play with words to the page in picture books. Lindsay is the award-winning author of “SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A LIBRARY,” “DUSK EXPLORERS” (an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner, Bank Street Best Book of 2021 with Outstanding Merit, and Amazon Editors’ Pick), “NOVA THE STAR EATER,” and “THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS.” She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, two kiddos, two fur-beasts, and a guinea pig.
Margarita Longoria is the author of the upcoming YA anthology “Living Beyond Borders.” She’s a lifelong bookworm, book blogger, and high school librarian in South Texas where she founded Border Book Bash: Celebrating Teens and Tweens of the Rio Grande Valley. Margarita grew up on the Texas/Mexico border known as the Rio Grande Valley and lives with her family in Texas.
Marcia Argueta Mickelson – Born in Guatemala, when Marcia was an infant, her family immigrated to the United States. She attended high school in New Jersey and then graduated from Brigham Young University. She is the author of The Huaca and Where I Belong. She lives in Texas with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. Marcia’s book, Where I Belong, won a Pura Belpr? honor.
Nicholas Solis – An award-winning elementary educator, as well as a writing teacher at The Writing Barn in Austin, Texas. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Grant from We Need Diverse Books. He has taught students all over the globe–from Tanzania to Texas–and there’s one thing he’s learned from his world travels: kids are kids everywhere you go. Nick is a prolific author who writes picture books, teaching blogs, middle-grade novels, and poetry. His debut author/illustrator book, “THE STARING CONTEST,” released with Peter Pauper Press in September 2020 and was nominated as a Redbud Read Aloud Award finalist for 2022. “THE COLOR COLLECTOR,” with Sleeping Bear Press, came out April 15, 2021 and “MY TOWN, MI PUEBLO,” with Nancy Paulsen Books, was just released Aug. 16, 2022. He lives with his wife, their dog, and their son, Leo, in Austin, Texas.
Candy Wellins – A lifelong writer and book lover. A former teacher, I have a BA in journalism and an M.Ed. in literacy education. I’m now a full-time mom to three wonderful children who keep me up-to-date and immersed in children’s literature. When I’m not reading, writing or mothering, I love running, traveling and naps! My debut picture book “Saturdays Are for Stella” (Illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan, PAGE STREET KIDS) was named a Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2020. Publishers Weekly called my debut picture book biography “The Stars Beckoned: Edward White’s Amazing Walk in Space” (Illustrated by Courtney Dawson, PHILOMEL) “an introduction to a space pioneer that’s ideal for the youngest nonfiction readers.” My family and I make our home deep in the heart of Texas.
Anne Wynter – The Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winning author of “Everybody in the Red Brick Building,” illustrated by Oge Mora, as well as the board books “One Big Day and Hands On!” both illustrated by Alea Marley. Anne earned a degree in theatre from Washington University in St. Louis and penned a number of short plays that have been produced around the country. She currently lives in Austin, TX with her husband and two children. Her next book – “Nell Plants a Tree,” illustrated by Daniel Miyares – will be out in January 2023.
Susan McCauley – A screenwriter and award-winning author of books for adults, young adults, middle-grade, and young readers. Susan fell in love with writing, theater, and film when she was 8 years old. That passion inspired her to receive a B.A. in Radio-Television with a minor in Theater from the University of Houston, an M.F.A. in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California (USC), and an M.A. in Text & Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and King’s College in London.
Alex Z. Salinas – Author of poetry collections “WARBLES” and “DREAMT,” or “The Lingering Phantoms of Equinox.” He is also the author of a book of stories, “City Lights From the Upside Down.” His third collection of poems, “Hispanic Sonnets,” is forthcoming through FlowerSong Press. He holds an M.A. in English Literature and Language from St. Mary’s University.
Claudia Villarreal – Born in Laredo, Texas, and raised in Zapata, Texas, a small South Texas border community. She graduated from Zapata High School in 1993 and went on to pursue a BA in Psychology from Texas A&M International University in 1999. After obtaining an alternative teaching certification, Villarreal became a Special Education teacher in various school districts in both Texas and California. The goal of Villarreal’s latest endeavor is to help open dialogue about diversity and bullying. Villarreal’s new book tackles issues that are often hard to discuss, especially during a time of great discord in the country. Targeted at an audience of 4-8-year-olds, “The Bully Who Learned to Love,” is a great read for a person of any age.
Authors interested in being featured in next year’s event can email SouthsideBookFairSA@gmail.com. Media inquiries can reach out to livefromthesouthside@gmail.com.
This article initially appeared on Live from the Southside.
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