The Texas Book Festival: Who's Out, Who's In?

Well, of course James Ellroy is still going to be there.

As will Joyce Carol Oates. And Martin Amis. And Ziggy Marley. And, oh, a couple hundred other acclaimed authors among all the readings and signings and booksales and workshops and general belles-lettres merriment and mafficking of the 19th annual Texas Book Festival.

But there have been some changes in the lineup, some extenuating-circumstances-propelled cancellations of an author or two, yes.

Legendarily a difficult thing to reach the holy Greil, and so that Mr. Marcus of the Lipstick Traces is one of those dropping out. Also to be in absentia are Eleanor Davis, Lev Grossman, Laura Lacamara, Todd Miller, and Hampton Sides. Heave along with us a sigh of disappointment, but – but, dear reader! – note that Tavis Smiley, author of Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year, is joining this year's company of literary glory in Austin during the Oct. 25-26 weekend. And there will surely be more worthies added as the days go by, the weeks file past, the sun does its usual series of reps – up! down! up! down! – toward the advent of another Texas winter.

Who all is gonna be there this year? Where are the events taking place, specifically? What's all this fuss about kayaks?

The festival website has the answers to all those questions and more.