FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
B. Alan Bourgeois
Texas Association of Authors
512/554-9560 or info@deartexas.info

Kimberly Beasley
Hunny Child Books
830/899-5541 or kembeasley@hunnychildbooks.com

Texas Association of Authors Seeks to Support Texas Authors and State Literacy with “Drop Everything and Read Texas Day”

AUSTIN, TEXAS —The Texas Association of Authors has dubbed April 12 as “Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Texas Day,” created to encourage readers of all ages to enjoy a book by a Texas author. The day will be marked with a statewide event in which more than 80 Texas-based authors will participate in readings and signings at 30 bookstores across the state, including selected Barnes & Noble and Half Price Books locations as well as independent bookstores.

Texas dignitaries will kick off events at the Texas State Capitol at noon on April 11 with an award ceremony for this year’s winners of the TxAuthors.com Book Awards.

The initiative has gained support from city governments and businesses alike. Round Rock Mayor Alan McGraw and Austin Mayor Steve Adler have proclaimed April 12 as DEAR Texas Day. Also among its supporters, Joe’s Crab Shack has joined Barnes & Noble in offering customers a donation voucher, which directs a portion of proceeds from net sales to support DEAR Texas events and children’s literacy programs.

“We have three goals for DEAR Texas,” said B. Alan Bourgeois, Founder and Director of the Texas Association of Authors. “Our first goal is to encourage people of all ages to read more because we as a society are losing readers to TV and electronics. Second, we need to give readers an opportunity to meet a fellow Texan that has written a book, and give authors an opportunity to introduce their book to people they may have not had a chance to reach before. Third, with the money raised from the Barnes & Noble and Joe’s Crab Shack vouchers, we will be able to work with other literacy programs in Texas and bring more books and authors to schools, libraries and events, thus helping everyone grow.”

For more information, including a complete list of participating bookstores and authors, please visit DearTexas.info.

About the Texas Association of Authors:
The Texas Association of Authors promotes the works of Texas authors. The only organization of its kind in the country, Texas Authors leverages the knowledge and expertise of many different authors to help promote others within the world of reading and writing.

About DEAR:
Originally created by HarperCollins, the DEAR program has taken place nationwide on April 12 in honor of young adult and children’s book author Beverly Cleary’s birthday.

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DEAR Texas Day
Events in Austin and the Surrounding Area

Texas authors will be appearing at various bookstores in Austin and the surrounding area on April 12. Authors will read from their books and will be available to autograph books purchased at the event.

Malvern Books
613 W. 29th St. Austin, TX 78705
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Art Anthony, author of “Return to Sulphur River”
J.C. Hulsey, author of “The Traveler Series”
Jeffery A. Mays, author of “The Former Hero”
David Alkek, author of “The Doorway”
Jan Sikes, author of “Convict and the Rose”
Andrea Stahle, author of “Gods of Arcadia”
R.C. Knipstein, author of “Paradise Forbidden”
Kimberly E. M. Beasley, author of “Revelations of my Heart”
Maryann Miller, author of “Doubletake”
Mary B. Stafford, author of “A Wasp in a Fig Tree”

Barnes & Noble – Arboretum
10000 Research Blvd.
Ste. 158 Austin, TX 78759
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
David Hughes, author of “Melted Clowns” and “The Epiphany of Joy”
Kathleen Shields, author of “Hamilton Troll Series”
Andrea Boltwood, author of “The Clown Who Came Down with a Frown”
Debra Winegarten, author of “Oveta Culp Hobby”
R.L. Nolen, author of “Deadly Thyme”
Rob Wood, author of “Let’s Scare Mom”
Elizabeth Garcia, author of “Border Ghosts”
Joanne Fox Phillips, author of “Revenge of the Cube Dweller”
Art Costello, author of “Expectation Therapy”
Cindy B. Wright, author of “Reel Transformation”
R.W. Jaeger, author of “Next Stop Heaven”
Justine San Filippo, author of “Lose Your Inches without Losing Your Mind!”
Aralyn Hughes, editor of “Kid Me Not”
Diana Finfrock-Farrar, author of “The Door of the Heart”
Roger Leslie, author of “My First Last Year”

Barnes & Noble – Sunset Valley Village
5601 Brodie Ln.
Ste. 300
Austin, TX 78745
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Jackie Smith, PhD., author of “Once More with Feeling”
Barnes & Noble – La Frontera Village
2701 Parker Rd.
Bldg. A, Ste. 700
Round Rock, TX 78681
2 p.m.
Anna Church, author of the children’s series “Hug-A-Bug”
Jedha Mayberry, author of the award-winning “The Unheralded King of Preston Plains Middle”

Half Price Books – South Lamar/The Corners
2929 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
Noon to 5:30 p.m.
Howie Richey, author of “Party Weird: Festivals and Fringe Happenings of Austin”
Lillian Hunter, award-winning author of “Sam Solves a Problem” and “What If I Had Taken the Road Not Traveled”

Half Price Books – North Lamar
5555 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78751
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Mitchel Street, author of “Prophase”
Arlene Gale, author of “Face Forward Move Forward”
Linda Baten Johnson, author of “Mystery at Desolation Point”

Half Price Books – Boardwalk
2601 S. I-35
Round Rock, TX 78664
1 p.m.
Myra MclIvain, award-winning author of “Stein House” and “Legacy”