Books on the Bosque Literary Festival

POSTED: Friday, October 4, 2024

Keynote speaker Virginia Miller Reeves will kick off this year’s Books on the Bosque on November 9 at 9:30 a.m.

The author of Once in the Blue Moon will speak to us about her newly published novel set in 1940s Oklahoma on a red dirt cotton farm. Once in a Blue Moon is “grounded in the realities of life near the end of the World War II. A tale of willpower in ordinary people who act with courage and grit, this story is ultimately one of resilience, forgiveness and redemption.”  The protagonist Maggie and her family are forced to endure a season of fear and failure as they face the loss of their home and their once amazing daddy to the whiskey bottle.When all seems lost, Maggie, her sisters, and her mother band together to overcome humiliation and tragedy in this tale of willpower, resilience, forgiveness and redemption.

Reeves was born and raised on a cotton farm in Oklahoma. She is still married to Stuart, the boy she met at 14 after leaving that farm. Her novel is inspired by her family stories, which set her life’s course of hard work, endless energy and passion.

Reeves will be joined by Mark A. Daniel and Tony Burnett, who will conduct writing workshops.

Daniel specializes in suspense, horror, and thriller genres. He has 7 novels and 2 short story collections to his credit. Daniel lives on 73 acres in rural west Texas with his wife of 25+ years, a few dogs, several cats, and a varying number of chickens.

An award-winning poet, songwriter, and novelist, Tony Burnett has had work published in over 40 international literary magazines including Short Story America, Midwest Review, and Equinox. He has served as board president of the Writer’s League of Texas and is currently the managing editor and CEO of Kallisto Gaia Press. His publications include a short story collection, Southern Gentleman, a book of poetry titled The Reckless Hope of Scoundrels, and his most recent novel, Watermelon Tattoo, winner of the Water Tower Press Novel Prize. Tony will enlighten us with an interactive workshop entitled “Aerobic Plot Development.”

AWARDS CEREMONY - BOOKS ON THE BOSQUE 3RD ANNUAL WRITING CONTEST

The day ends with book-signings and the awards ceremony for this year’s writing contest at 2:30.

Admission fee for the day is $30 and includes breakfast and lunch. Admission is free to the awards ceremony.

Continental breakfast and check-in begin at 9 a.m.

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Our deepest thanks to our sponsors:

First Security State Bank

Roland & Joyce Jones

Steve & Leslie McConnico

Don & Belle Berg

Savannah Lea - State Farm Insurance

Tolstoy & Co. Bookshop

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