San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
10th anniversary boasts literary, civic leaders
More than 100 writers will be taking part in the San Antonio Book Festival, which is marking its 10th anniversary.
The festival kicks off with the Book Appétit! Literary
Feast Luncheon, featuring New Yorker writer Susan Orlean. The main event is two days later, a free, daylong festival starting at 10 a.m. May 21 at the Central Library, 600 Soledad; and Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta.
Some sessions will be live streamed on the festival’s YouTube channel, tinyurl.com/3447923u.
Most participating writers will attend the festival in person, though a few big names will take part remotely in a venue called the virtual tent. The lineup there includes Janelle Monáe, who will discuss “The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer,” a collection of stories inspired by her album “Dirty Computer,” at 10 a.m.; journalist Joshua Prager, discussing his Roe v. Wade book “The Family Roe: An American Story,” at 11 a.m.; and novelist David Baldacci, who will chat about his new book “Dream Town” at 1 p.m.
Here’s a look at some of the other highlights:
Sandra Cisneros: Novelist Cisneros will lead a discussion about writing as a second career with Ruth Behar, Ito Romo, Renato Rosaldo and Richard Santos. 10 a.m., Russell Hill Rogers Tent.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Nelson Wolff: These two civic leaders will talk about “The Mayor and the Judge: The Inside Story of the War Against COVID,” Wolff ’s book about the pandemic, for which Nirenberg wrote the foreword. 10:30 a.m., Hawn Holt Family Auditorium.
Jonny Garza Villa and Marcia Argueta Mickelson: Garza Villa and Mickelson, young adult authors from San Antonio, will discuss their latest work, “Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun” and “Where I Belong.” Both books received Pura Belpré honors from the American Library Association, which recognize books aimed at young readers that portray Latino cultural experiences well. 11:15 a.m.,
Coates Chapel.
Stephan Harrigan and Davis Liss: Texas authors Harrigan and Liss will discuss their new books “The Leopard is Loose” and “The Peculiarities.” 12:15 p.m., Russell Hill Rogers Tent.
Jericho Brown and Natalie Diaz: Poets Brown and Diaz
will read from and discuss their latest collections, which both earned their authors the Pulitzer Prize. Brown’s “The Tradition” won in 2020, and Diaz’ “Postcolonial Love Poem” in 2021. 1:30 p.m., Russell Hill Rogers Tent.
Lan Samantha Chang and Vauhini Vera: Novelists Chang
and Vera will talk about their latest books, Chang’s “The Family Chao” and Vara’s “The Immortal King Rao.” 1:30 p.m., Latino Collection Resource Center.
“This One is Dedicated to ...”: This YouTube series, which is about dedications in books for young readers, will film a live edition in San Antonio.
Hosts Jennifer Ziegler and Chris Barton will talk to Naomi Shihab Nye about her new book “The Turtle of Oman.” 2 p.m., McNutt Garden Tent.
Emma Straub: Novelist Straub, whose books include “The Vacationers” and “Modern Lovers,” will talk about her latest, “This Time Tomorrow.” It’s a time-travel tale about a daughter who has grown apart from her father. 2:45 p.m., Russell Hill Rogers Tent.
The Ultimate Illustrator Sketch-Off: This fun drawing competition will feature illustrators Laura Gao, Adriana Garcia, Xavier Garza, Shawn Harris and Don Tate will compete. 3:30 p.m., McNutt Garden Tent.
Julia Glass: National Book Award winning novelist Glass (“Three Junes”) will talk about her new book, “Vigil Harbor.” It’s a near-future literary novel about a village rocked both by worsening climate change and the arrival of a pair of outsiders.