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Amarillo's Open Book Festival Has It All

If you love words, there's something to love about the Amarillo Public Library's 3rd Annual Open Book Festival, this Saturday, November 2, in the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center.  Starting at 9:30, there are activities, stories and games for kids, workshops, readings, and presentations on books and writing.  

For history buffs in particular, the event presents an opportunity to meet regional historians and get a glimpse into the process of writing historical nonfiction.  These are just a few of the authors taking part in the morning part of the Festival—Meet the Authors:

Lana Payne Barnett, author of Lonely Graves: A Texas Murder Trilogy.

Barnett’s brand new book is a close examination of three early murder cases in the Texas Panhandle.  One takes place in the tiny town of Panhandle in 1897; another in Parmer County in 1926, and the final murder was committed in the City of Amarillo in 1930.  

Norman Wayne Brown, co-author of A Lawless Breed

John Wesley Hardin was one of the best known outlaws of pioneer Texas.   Chuck Parsons and Norman Wayne Brown bring his story to life. 

William McCarron, author of Civilizing the Texas Frontier: The Love Story of Mr. and Mrs. James Lowry Smith

Mr. and Mrs. James Lowry Smith came to Amarillo as pioneers when the City’s population was just two hundred and made immense contributions to the cultural, business, and social growth of the Panhandle’s largest city.  

Bill Neal, Author of Vengeance Is Mine

Over the years, a number of historians have attempted to tell the tale of the Boyce/Sneed feud, but most gave up after finding family members and other acquaintances unwilling to discuss the family grudge.  Attorney turned author Bill Neal has won acclaim for the painstaking research and dynamic storytelling that finally sheds light on this little known Texas drama.  

Also, at 9:30, if you want to be a writer, get it first hand from best-selling authors Jodi Thomas and Tim Lewis. Thomas is celebrating 25 years in publishing.  The workshop will be held in the Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room.  More information about Jodi Thomas can be found here.

At 11:30 am, it's the Moonrise Picnic Luncheon with Cassandra King.  Meet Cassandra King, who will be speaking about her newest novel, "Moonrise," during the "picnic" lunch.  Tickets are just $25 each and proceed go to support Friends of the Amarillo Public Library!  More about Cassandra can be found here.  Note:  If you're listening to High Plains Morning, with host, Mike Fuller on Friday morning, he'll be giving away two autographed copies of, "Moonrise," to lucky callers.

Credit Amarillo Public Library

The evening brings A Little Knowledge Trivia Contest and the Books to Broadway Gala.  

More about this event is on the Amarillo Public Library's Facebook pageor you can call 806-378-3051 or email Stacy.Yates@amarillolibrary.org.