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From the Vaults: The Roots of 'Promised Land'

The story starts back when the new Gus Van Sant movie Promised Land, which stars Matt Damon and John Krasinski – who also co-produced and wrote this screenplay together – was nothing more than a first draft called Gold Mist, which was written by Dave Eggers. Read More | Comment »

5:40PM Fri. Jan. 4, Marjorie Baumgarten

Santa Claus said WHAT at Half Price Books?

It's kind of like, uh, Dial-A-Santa …? Read More | Comment »

4:31PM Tue. Dec. 18, 2012, Wayne Alan Brenner

Hitch Renewed

I was apprehensive about writing a piece remembering author Christopher Hitchens, who passed away on Dec. 15, 2011 from complications of esophageal cancer. I'm sure he is being eulogized much more eloquently by other writers, and there is also his impressive – daunting, even – legacy to contend with. Read More | Comment »

4:00PM Mon. Dec. 17, 2012, Larysa Pachulski

And I Beheld an Infinite Map

Where is the Enfield Tennis Academy? Read More | Comment »

3:32PM Mon. Dec. 10, 2012, Wayne Alan Brenner

Short Story Contest Deadline Reminder

While we generally think Mark Twain knew what he was talking about, in the case of our annual Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest, best not heed his advice to “never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” Alas, day after tomorrow will be too late: Postmark deadline for short story submissions is Monday, Dec. 10. Read More | Comment »

7:26PM Sun. Dec. 9, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Book It to Humanities Texas and Meet Local Writers

Nonprofit Humanities Texas’ annual holiday book bazaar, which happens tomorrow (12/8), is a two-birds, one-stone kinda deal: You get presents for loved ones on your list, and Humanities Texas presents you with the opportunity to meet some of Austin’s finest writers. Win-win, right? Read More | Comment »

5:29PM Fri. Dec. 7, 2012, Kimberley Jones

In Memory of Richard Dorsett

Richard Dorsett – bookseller, film buff, music fanatic, writer, collector, intellectual, Red Sox fan, shoe enthusiast, conspiracy theorist, provocateur – died on October 26 at his home in South Austin of an aortic aneurysm. Read More | Comment »

7:35PM Wed. Nov. 14, 2012, Michael Hall

Changes in the Local Lit Landscape

After seven years expanding the programming and reputation of the Texas Book Festival, Literary Director Clay Smith is leaving the organization to serve as the new features editor at Kirkus Reviews. Read More | Comment »

3:55PM Thu. Nov. 1, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Paging Through the Texas Book Festival

A cold snap necessitated breaking out the first scarves of the season, while the coming East Coast Frankenstorm prevented a dozen-plus authors from flying in, but none of that deterred an estimated 40,000 book lovers from hitting the Capitol last weekend to celebrate the Texas Book Festival. Read More | Comment »

2:10PM Mon. Oct. 29, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Can I Get a Suggestion for Something That Goes "Fhtagn"?

Why, for the love of all that's holy, would anyone with a lick of sense mess around with the eldritch and mind-shattering powers of the Elder Gods? Read More | Comment »

3:27PM Thu. Oct. 11, 2012, Wayne Alan Brenner

Spotlight on Texas Book Festival Authors

Overwhelmed by the hundreds of authors coming to town for this October's Texas Book Festival? Get your feet wet with our look back at a dozen writers we've profiled this year. Read More | Comment »

10:05AM Thu. Sep. 13, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Texas Book Festival Lineup Revealed

The Texas Book Festival announced its 2012 slate today, featuring big hitters in fiction (Junot Díaz, Justin Cronin) and nonfiction (Robert Caro, Douglas Brinkley, Cheryl Strayed, Naomi Wolf), plus pop culture personalities branching out (Jewel, Tony Danza). Read More | Comment »

12:30PM Wed. Sep. 12, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Party Hats On: O. Henry Turns 150

Was Austin’s O. Henry the Original Slacker? That’s the case being made in a new exhibit at the O. Henry Museum, which will celebrate the 150th birthday of the legendary short story writer, that titan of twist endings, this Saturday, Sept. 15. Read More | Comment »

1:50PM Mon. Sep. 10, 2012, Kimberley Jones

A Good Week For Michener Alums

Two graduates of UT’s Michener Center for Writers made the news this week for their novel work. Read More | Comment »

6:17PM Thu. Sep. 6, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Calling All Bilbo Brainiacs

Pop quiz: What's the best three-birds/one-stone way to celebrate Bilbo Baggins' birthday, support a good cause, and show off your no doubt sizable nerd skills? Read More | Comment »

2:58PM Mon. Aug. 27, 2012, Kimberley Jones

‘Apocalypse: A Bill Callahan Tour Film’ Premieres Sept. 14

When singer-songwriter Bill Callahan went on tour to promote his 2011 record Apocalypse, filmmaker Hanly Banks and her camera tagged along for the U.S. leg. The result – an “hour-long concert film/tour documentary/psychedelic thingamajig” – has its Texas premiere at the Stateside on Sept. 14. Read More | Comment »

1:30PM Tue. Aug. 21, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Illumine Honorees Announced

The Austin Public Library Friends Foundation shines a light on Texas’ big hitters in literary achievement with its second annual Illumine Awards. Read More | Comment »

10:26PM Sun. Aug. 19, 2012, Kimberley Jones

**Updated**: 'Wettest County' Scribe Comes to Town

Matt Bondurant turned his family’s real-life bootlegger history into the hyperviolent 2008 novel The Wettest County in the World, which has itself been turned into the new film Lawless, starring Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf. Bondurant and Willie Nelson will be at a special rescheduled sneak on Aug. 25. Read More | Comment »

4:42PM Thu. Aug. 16, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Remembering David Rakoff

David Rakoff, a humorist and frequent This American Life contributor whose personal essays ran the gamut from blackly comic observations on life to rapturous accounts of arts & crafts projects, has died. He was 47. Read More | Comment »

11:46AM Fri. Aug. 10, 2012, Kimberley Jones

Getting Your ArmadilloCon On

Austin's annual sci-fi/fantasy convention kicks off today and runs through the weekend. Read More | Comment »

11:54AM Fri. Jul. 27, 2012, Kimberley Jones

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