Elmer and Jan Grape say the best way to say goodbye to their bookstore, Mysteries & More, is to stop by the store (11139 N. I-35); that’s in part because they’d like to sell off the many, many items in their liquidation sale. Mysteries & More opened in 1991 and has brought to town such authors as James Ellroy, Sue Grafton, and Bill Pronzini in addition to tirelessly supporting local authors. But it’s time, Jan says, for Elmer to retire. So all new hardcovers are half of cover price; bookcases are for sale; and all used paperbacks are one-fourth of cover price. Call the store at 837-6768 for more information…
Austin poet Valerie Bridgeman Davis recently suffered a heart attack and subsequent costly medical bills, so a Benefit Performance has been planned in her behalf with poets Vicky Charleston, Thom the World Poet, Marvin Kimbrough, and others on Saturday, April 24, 7:30pm at the King-Seabrook Chapel on the Huston-Tillotson campus. $10 in advance or at the door. Call 505-3098 for more information.
Taliaferro’s Tarzan (Twice)
Tonight, Thursday, April 22, at 7pm at Book People, Austin author John Taliaferro will read from and sign Tarzan Forever: The Life of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Creator of Tarzan and then the following Tuesday, April 27, at 7pm he’ll do the same at Barnes & Noble Westlake.
Violet Crown Awards
It’s time again to think about submitting books to the Austin Writers’ League’s ninth annual Violet Crown Book Awards. $1,000 cash prizes will be awarded in each of three categories — fiction, nonfiction, and poetry/prose (which includes essay and short fiction) — to AWL members who have published books between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999. (Authors can join AWL upon submitting two copies of the book, a $10 entry fee, and an entry form.) Deadline is June 30; awards will be presented September 25 at Barnes & Noble Westlake; B&N co-sponsors the awards. Call 499-8914 or e-mail awl@writersleague.org for more information.
Be Healed!
This has to be up somebody’s alley: On Thursday, April 29, E. David Brown will be at Book People at 7pm all the way from Canada to read from Tell You All, a striking satire in which Lazarus returns from the grave hideously decayed and is met with revulsion from his horrified wife, who goes insane at the sight of him. He’s so awful he’s a Lazarus only a mother could love; he sets off with her to find the one man who can make good on his botched miracle, Jesus.
Texas Writers Month, etc.
The kickoff to Texas Writers Month, which is May, is the Fourth Annual Texas Writers Month Celebration and Informal Booksigning, which in the past has been held at places like Scholz Garten but this year will be held at GSD&M (828 West Sixth) on Tuesday, May 4, from 7-10pm, free and open to the public, which is encouraged to come and meet lots of Texas writers. There’s an attempt afoot to have each writer’s available titles at the event ready to be signed. There’s free parking in the on-site garage …
St. Ed’s English professor Dr. Catherine Rainwater will read from her new book, Dreams of Fiery Stars: The Transformations of Native American Fiction, on Friday, April 23, 4pm, in the Maloney Room in the Main Building of St. Ed’s.
This article appears in April 23 • 1999 and April 23 • 1999 (Cover).