TURNING PAGES CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL SET

The Turning Pages Children's Book Festival will be  October 11 and 12 in Ada, Ok. It's geared toward K-8th grade students, teachers, and parents and will have lots of contests, activities, and events for the kids. 

It's focus is to promote literacy in Oklahoma's youth and to inspire the next generation of authors and illustrators. We're still looking for vendors and have just a couple of presenter spaces left.  There's a lot more information on the website at turningpagesfestival.com. 

Ponca City Event Provides Rare Opportunity

Audience enjoys one of the numerous author readings
 in the mansion library.

Is there anything more exciting than discovering a wonderful book?  Yes, actually meeting one!  The Northern Oklahoma Literary Arts Book Festival, hosted at the history Marland Grand Home in Ponca City, Oklahoma is a rare gem for the state. Set in such a elegant setting the event could soon rival events in surrounding states and across the region. 

Such events are important for regional authors to make important connections with local readers and book buyers, important for regional populations to encourage reading for a lifetime, and important to local economies by stimulating local businesses and spurring activities.

Over two dozen authors from at least three states were on hand to meet the public, to talk about books, about writing, and reading in general.  Authors reading from their selections in a lovely oak paneled library room surrounded by history.  Check out the page tab for the NOLABF for some images from the event.  A tip of the hat for one  community and its endeavors to support local literacy by bringing authors and audiences together.

MAKE PLANS NOW FOR 2012 BOOK FESTIVALS

Chisholm Trail Book Festival
Duncan, Ok - September

Authors and readers combine to mutual benefit in book festivals. Here is a link to some planned for the coming year.  Great idea for a reading vacation.

Eastern Oklahoma Author Fest

Mara Webb announces the 3rd Annual EO AuthorFest. It will be held in Tahlequah, OK on October 8th at the Cherokee County Community Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information contact www.EOAuthorFest.org, EOAF@mail.org or call Mara (918)316-0576. "We would like to invite all authors to register, "said Mara," and come to Tahlequah! "

CHISHOLM TRAIL BOOK FESTIVAL

CHISHOLM TRAIL BOOK FESTIVAL HAS NEW WEBSITE

The event is Sept. 17, 2011 in Duncan, Oklahoma.  Be sure to drop by and visit with the authors, buy some books, get your photo with one of the creative folks and enjoy the event!

Web:http://www.chisholmtrailbookfestival.org/

8TH GRADER ANTHOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS OKLAHOMA

The Chisholm Trail Book Festival has focused on literacy and in 2009 involved local schools and students in the event through essay and creative writing contests. As a result, an anthology was produced and is now available online at Amazon.

It was edited by talented Oklahoma author Tonya Holmes Shook and features the work of Stephenson County, Oklahoma eight-grade students.  It features stories of cowboys, cooks, wranglers, and a trail boss.

Tonya Shook was the motivator for the original 'Border Queen Book Festival' in Comanche, OK which morphed into the 'Chisholm Trail Book Festival' now located in Duncan, Oklahoma.

The next CTBF is September 17, 2011 at the Duncan Convention Center.

COWSKIN PRAIRE BOOK FESTIVAL, MARCH 2010

Authors are being sought to participate in the Cowskin Prairie Book Festival, Saturday, March 27, 2010 in Grove, Oklahoma. Chapter #2611, United Daughters of the Confederacy, is sponsoring the event. The Festival is open to authors of both fiction and non-fiction in all genres: history, biography/memoir, education, romance, mystery, western, military, genealogy, children, young adult, etc.

Exhibitor tables are just $20 per table. Admission will be free to the public. Reservations can be mailed to: Cowskin Prairie Chapter, UDC, 61801 E 280 RD, Grove, OK. 74344. Reservations received by December 15 will include a free lunch. For more information call 918-542-4148, 918-787-4059 or visit www.gregathcompany.com/cpokudc/2010/Festival.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

Our next Border Queen Book Festival, honoring an early name for Comanche, Oklahoma, will be held on March 7th , 2009 (Sat.) from 10 am until 3 pm (or later if customers are still coming.) The first festival saw authors of nonfiction, romance, suspense, history, children's literature, religious/inspirational works, and so much more!

Set ups will be at 9 am on the 7th of March. There will be a fee of $5.00 per author. That will defray the cost of utilities for this event. Food will be there for the customer and author to purchase, no menu has been settled on yet but I'm thinking Hot Dog/ Hamburger/ Salad type of thing for people, to purchase -but it will be reasonable. I should have a motel with a block of rooms at a lower price reserved as time nears - in Duncan, 8 miles north of Comanche. There will be room for 40 tables and no more, all tables will be isle tables accessible for the attendee to approach any author. Your decoration and salesmanship will determine your sales. I hope to have lots more advertising going on this year with a bigger head start than the first one. There will be no speaker, but I am looking for a caricaturist. Know anyone? They will set up and sell their work to the people, $5.00 fee for this space. I will ask those who want to attend to contact me to reserve your name; later ask for your non-refundable fee of $5.00 to reserve your place. It will be first come first serve. Any cancellation will be the only space left available for those listed in the name reservations that want to come. I will need your name first and you will be the first considered, your reservation money will be asked for much later.

This is the information I have at present. Hope you can make it. Get your name in to me as soon as possible so we can reserve a place. You are welcome to have 2 to a table if you wish, your choice, but it is $5.00 per entry. It will be a great time meeting people, networking, and selling books! The Schools will be advertising for this event as well as many other places.
Make your name reservation as soon as possible. Blessings, Tonya shookum@pldi.net580-439-6912

Contact your state representatives and legislators! Wouldn't it be wonderful if school systems and communtiies across the region, and even statewide, would set apart that day and the Saturday of other book festivals, in order to highlight literacy in our state? Help promote a CELEBRATION OF LITERACY in Oklahoma! School children and teachers would be free of other school activities (sports, tests, etc.) on that day and local schools could arrange to accept CEU's for attending the event.

Bookmark: the BQBF blog - updates and additional information will be added there as it appears.

Read on Oklahoma!

OKLAHOMA BOOK EVENTS: BORDER QUEEN BOOK FESTIVAL

The first Annual Border Queen Book Festival was held March 29, 2008 in Comanche, Ok and attracted nearly 40 writers from Oklahoma and surrounding states. The authors, many of whom were listed in the Comanche Times (March 27, 2008), were:

Marcia Preston, Author, Edmond, OKhttp://www.marciapreston.com/
Dr. Lila Guzman, Author-Speaker ,Round Rock, TX http://www.lilaguzman.com/
Bob Avey, Author, Broken Arrow, OK http://www.bobavey.com/
Amy D. Shojai, OWFI Pres./Columnist, Radio Host, Author, Sherman, TX http://www.shojai.com/
Jan Morrill, Author-Speaker, Fayetteville, AR http://www.janmorrill.com/
Jackie King & Peggy Fielding, Authors-Speakers , Tulsa, OK http://www.peggyfielding.com/index.cfm
Nancy Robinson Masters ,Author- El.Sch.Speaker, Abilene, TX
Marvin Wiebener, Author , Thomas, OK http://www.amazon.com/Margin-Marvin-Wiebener/dp/1432708155
Frank L. Barnes ,Author-Ret. Minister ,Duncan, OK
Bonnie Eaton “B. J. Myrick” & Hazel Hart, Authors/KWA judges , Wichita, Kansas http://www.sktc.net/~beaton/
Ron Goetz, Author/OK Gunfighter Dramatist, Comanche, OK http://www.walterspubliclibrary.com/rgoetz.html
Tonya Holmes Shook, Author-Speaker, Hastings, OK
Bret Jones, Author/Professor/Dramatist/, Screenwriter, Ada, OK http://bretjones1.tripod.com/
Jim H. Ainsworth, Author-TX Storyteller, Campbell, TX http://www.jimainsworth.com/
Jim Etter, Author ,Bethany, OK http://www.jimetter.com/
Ron Morgan, Author, Haskell, OK
http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Boys-Cookson-Hills/dp/1581070594
Pat Gaines , Sr. Editor-Author ,Dragonfly Publishing, Inc., Sparks, OK at http://patgaines.homestead.com/
Mike Koch, Author , Coweta, OK http://www.amazon.com/Kimes-Gang-Michael-Koch/dp/1418471291
Judy Goodspeed , Author , Wetumka, Ok 74883, http://www.dragonflypubs.com/dfz/judygoodspeed.html
Marilyn A.Hudson , Author-OK Storyteller, Norman, OK
George Banks, Author , Jenks, OK http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3JAW94UKL76EC
Lonnie Magee ,Author ,Mounds, OK
Jill Hierstein Morris, Author/Puppeteer, Tulsa, OK
Desiree Webber, Author, Mustang, OK
Phil Calvert, Author, Edmond, OK
Jewel Sample, Author, Stillwater, OK http://jewelsamples.blogspot.com/\
Paul Johnson “PJ Lawton”, Author , Lawton, OK http://pjlawton1.googlepages.com/home
Hodge Wood , Author/Speaker , Vet Occupational. Therapist, Board Dir. of Paralyzed VetsRural Comanche, OK http://www.rrpconsulting.com/hodge_wood.htm
Mary Abernathy & Shirley Cephus, Authors , Waurika, OK
J.D. Morrison, Author , Independence, MO
Molly Lemmons, Author – Storyteller, Mustang, OK
Jody Ortiz ,Editor–Ghost Writer- Author, Oklahoma City, OK http://www.supplementalofficeservices.com/
Craig Key, Author , Chandler, OK
Keith Albin , Author ,Ringling, OK
Donna Farmer, Author ,Weatherford, OKE.
Norbert Smith PHD, Author-Gator Expert ,Weatherford, OK
L.P. Bowman, Author, Duncan, OK http://www.trafford.com/06-0469
Ellen Derickson, Author, Duncan, OK

OKLAHOMA BOOK EVENTS: RED DIRT BOOK FESTIVAL

Everything is in place. The hands of clock move forward. It is almost time...there is nothing like the excitement before a book festival. Writers wonder "will they like my books?" and "will I sell any books?"

Over the years since this festival began it has featured "Read Oklahoma", "Mysterious Oklahoma", and the "Oklahoma Character". The next installment (due 2009) should be just as spectacular with authors, storytellers, publishers, educators, and lots of visitors.

Bookmark the RED DIRT BOOKFESTIVAL for updates and news.

[Pictured is the Whorl Books booth prior to the opening of the 2007 Red Dirt Book Festival in Shawnee, Ok]