Nearly 40 authors are currently profiled as participants in the second annual festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Doña Ana Community College’s East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Admission is free.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Source: Las Cruces Writers
Photos: Courtesy
What began last year as the inaugural Southern New Mexico Book Festival is returning to Las Cruces with a considerably larger cast.
Nearly 40 authors are currently profiled as participants in the second annual festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Doña Ana Community College’s East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Admission is free.
The authors represent a remarkably broad shelf of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, memoir, mysteries, thrillers, horror, science fiction, time travel, fantasy, romance, children’s literature and books rooted in the culture and landscape of New Mexico and the Southwest. Many are award-winning writers, with participants coming from across New Mexico, West Texas and beyond.
“The Inaugural Southern New Mexico Book Festival was a great success,” festival chair Eva Nevarez St. John said. “This year’s festival will be bigger and better. Attendees will meet many new partners and vendors.”
The authors won’t simply be sitting behind tables selling and signing books.
Five hourly author and reader panels begin at 11 a.m. in the DACC Library, covering nonfiction; mystery and suspense; fantasy and romance; science fiction and time travel; and mystery, thriller and horror.
A separate series of workshops will give aspiring and established writers a chance to explore writing groups, book design and literary contests and awards. Las Cruces Libraries will also offer two sessions devoted to building miniature bookcases from Altoids tins.
Children will have a room of their own, with author readings scheduled throughout the day and regular book giveaways through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Young readers will be able to hear stories ranging from a lost javelina exploring the Organ Mountains to bilingual and Spanglish books reflecting life in the region.
The festival has also grown into a gathering place for much of the region’s literary community. Booksellers and publishers include Casa Camino Real, Artemesia Publishing, University of New Mexico Press, Enchanted Books and Colorful Chapters, while organizations including Las Cruces Writers, New Mexico Writers, the New Mexico Book Association, Southwest Word Fiesta, Friends of Thomas Branigan Memorial Library and the Military Writers Society of America are participating.
That breadth may be the best argument for setting aside more than a quick visit.
“Be prepared to spend hours enjoying everything we have to offer,” St. John said.
The festival website makes a pretty convincing case. It includes the complete schedule along with photographs and profiles of participating authors, descriptions of their books, panel information, children’s activities, workshops, booksellers, publishers, partner organizations and other vendors.
Readers can explore the full festival — and learn about the authors before Oct. 3 — at Southern New Mexico Book Festival.
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