Literary Fun on Schedule for the Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Books on the Green returns to The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, bringing with it a multi-award-winning fantasy and science fiction author (and member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame), a former Chief of Staff, and a former Poet Laureate of Texas. The three-day event, April 11-13, will also include a workshop on getting published, children’s book authors and illustrators, poems by participants of The Woodlands Diversion poetry contest, poetry buskers, and a storytelling challenge.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce our authors for this year! On Saturday, the legendary science fiction and fantasy author Martha Wells will take the stage at 1 p.m, and on Sunday, Jean Becker--Chief of Staff for George HW Bush and deputy press secretary for First Lady Barbara Bush--will join us on stage, also at 1 p.m.,” said Teresa Kenney, owner of Village Books and founder of the nonprofit organization Reading Is Revolutionary. “We will also welcome poet J. Bruce Fuller, former Poet Laureate of Texas Dave Parsons, and children’s book authors and illustrators Katie Schon, Christine Almeda and Melea Nieto. And for those who are hoping to make their own mark in the publishing world, literary agent and author Anne Rose and educator and author Marcus Bridgewater will lead a workshop on getting published.”

This year’s event will also include more interactive activities for guests. “Last year, Village Books founded our nonprofit, Reading Is Revolutionary. Our mission is to serve as a champion and resource for the literary arts and to encourage individuals to share their own stories. We wanted this year’s Books on the Green to be more experiential, so we are including activities such as poems on demand by poetry buskers, a three-day game of pass-the-story where individuals can contribute to a collaborative tale, and a children’s book illustrator who can sketch your portrait for you to take home.”

Individuals can also vote on their favorite Literary Peeps Diorama (book-themed dioramas using the springtime treat Peeps), take the mic for a storytelling challenge, create their own magnetic poem to be included in a limited edition chapbook post-festival, and listen to the young poets of The Woodlands Diversion’s poetry contest. “We are also planning on highlighting one of Reading Is Revolutionary’s programs, the Packhorse Library. So at 10 a.m. on Saturday, kids will be able to pick up a free book which will be distributed via horseback,” said Kenney.

For a full schedule of activities, individuals can visit ReadingIsRevolutionary.org or MyVillageBooks.com.