*
THU, AUG 15: Lars Eighner’s Travels with Lizbeth may have an unhappy
sequel, unless his many Austin fans pitch in to help. Eighner’s novel, as you
probably know, chronicled his struggle with homelessness on the streets of
Austin and California. Largely due to the success of that book, Eighner was
able to put a roof over his head, but health problems incurred during that era
are threatening to take it away. A benefit reading for Eighner will be held at
Bookstop Central Park, 7-9pm, including the talents of Eighner, Mary Willis
Walker, Marion Winik, and Lawrence Wright, with more likely to be announced.
Other co-sponsors of the event include The Texas Observer and The
Austin Chronicle, and refreshments will be provided by Central Market…
Patricia Page, who recreates late 1960s Houston in her novel Hope’s
Cadillac, will appear at Book People at 7pm on the third-floor stage…
Writer Paula D’Etcheverry will detail the fundamentals of romance writing in
“Romance Writing 101” at Borders at 7:30pm… A panel of newly published
authors will discuss their experiences in the competitive market of mystery
writing at the Austin Writers’ League meeting. Writers include Nancy Bell
(Biggie and the Poisoned Politician), Jan Maxwell (Baptism by
Murder), and Chuck Meyer (The Saints of God Murders, Blessed Are the
Merciless). The panel is moderated by Jan Grape, mystery writer and owner
of Mysteries & More; 7pm at the First Unitarian Church. Open to the
public.
* FRI, AUG 16: J.R. Helton will sign his new book, Below the Line, a
critical look at the treatment of workers in the movie business, 7-8pm at
Barnes & Noble north.
* SAT, AUG 17: “Mexico” Mike Nelson, considered an expert on driving in Mexico
by the Mexican Governmental Tourism offices, makes an appearance at Barnes
& Noble with his book, Mexico’s Colonial Heart, 2-3pm.
* WED, AUG 21: Wil McCarthy, author of The Fall of Sirius, signs at
Adventures in Crime & Space, 6-8pm.
* ONGOING: The Austin Writers’ League (AWL) is accepting entries for the Sixth
annual Violet Crown Book Awards to honor three outstanding published books
written by league members. Three $1,000 prizes will be awarded in the
categories of fiction, nonfiction, and literary (poetry, essays, short
stories). Only AWL members are eligible, but authors may join when submitting
an entry. Entered books must have been published between Sept. 1, 1995 and
August 31, 1996, and entries are due August 31. For an entry form or more
information, call the AWL at 499-8914… Registrations are now being taken for
AWL’s fall workshops. The lineup includes: Billy Porterfield will offer the
“Lowdown on Nonfiction” Sept. 14, the same day Susan Wade (Walking Rain) presents “Fiction Proposal and Outline”; Sept. 21 features “Mysterious
Characters” by Purple Sage series author Barbara Burnett Smith and “Travel
Writing” by Lin Sutherland; publicist Leann Phenix presents “Book
Promotion/Marketing” and Channel 36 morning anchor Larry Brill does “Handling
the Interview” on Sept. 28; “Book Proposals and Beyond” by Tom Ferguson and
“Writing for the World-Wide Web” by Donn LeVie come on Oct. 5; and former
Michener Fellow Dorothy Barnett teaches a two-day advanced writing intensive on
“Writing Our Stories as Memoir and/or Fiction” on Sept. 14 and 28. n
“Post Scripts” is for author appearances and booksignings; the
deadline is two weeks before the issue date. Mail to The Austin
Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765; fax 458-6910.
This article appears in August 16 • 1996 and August 16 • 1996 (Cover).