A TALENTED GROUP of authors and scholars will offer tips on writing, publishing and promoting works of fiction and non-fiction at the first East Texas Book Fest, a free day-long exhibition and discussions set for Friday, Sept. 25 at the Ornelas Activity Center, 3402 Old Omen Road in Tyler. An additional 50 authors will be available to sign and sell their books, chat about their work, and meet East Texas readers. Organizers say that readers, prospective authors, teachers and students, librarians and book lovers of all ages will want to attend this first East Texas Book Fest.

Sheriff J.B. Smith knows crime. And his latest work, The Christmas Day Murders, actually reflects a crime from his cases. This community leader, rancher, businessman, sheriff and humorist is a star storyteller. As Honorary Co-Chair of the 2009 East Texas Book Fest, J.B. welcomes writers and readers everywhere to this East Texas first! Hear him talk about “The True Crime Mystery.”

Jory Sherman, in addition to having authored countless western novels and short-story collections, is an accomplished teacher of prospective writers. His talk, “So You Want to Be An Author,” deals with how to start your story, how to avoid writer’s block, proven and tested methods for any writer—all talents that Sherman is willing to share as a full-time writer for more than 40 years. Sherman began as a poet and since has published more than 1,000 articles and 500 short stories, and has recently ventured into e-books. You will not want to miss hearing this fascinating author and writer’s guide. His course, “The Magic of Writing,” opens doors to beginning writers and helps to hone skills of the veterans.

Don Graham is the J. Frank Dobie Regents Professor of American and English Literature at The University of Texas at Austin. He is the author or editor of numerous books and articles, including Kings of Texas: The 150-Year Saga of an American Ranching Empire (2003), which won the Carr P. Collins Prize from the Texas Institute of Letters as best nonfiction book of the year, and Lone Star Literature: A Texas Anthology (2006). His latest book, Literary Austin, was published in 2007. He is a past president of the Texas Institute of Letters and a writer-at-large for Texas Monthly. He is currently writing a book on Texas movies for Texas Christian University Press. His talk will focus on “Western Works,” especially Texas writing.

John Foxjohn, noted author and speaker—born and raised in the rural East Texas town of Nacogdoches—talks about how he uses his diverse background and meticulous research to create novels that many readers believe are true stories. A Vietnam veteran, Army Airborne Ranger, policeman and homicide detective, retired teacher and coach, he now is a multi-published author. Foxjohn creates characters that readers love and root for—not cardboard cutouts. John is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Elements of Romance, Kiss of Death, Lethal Ladies, Sisters-in-Crime, East Texas Writers Guild, League of Texas Writers and many online writing groups. A full-time writer and speaker who lives in Lufkin, Foxjohn travels extensively across the U.S.

Nancy Bell is the author of Biggie Weatherford mystery series and other charming mysteries. Bell shows her readers that small town life contains everything they've been lead to believe—and more. The people of small towns are more interesting, more open-minded, and more intelligent than contemporary society portrays them. At the same time, the author includes individuals with idiosyncrasies and eccentricities that do exist in small Southern towns, almost without exception. Ms. Bell was an Assistant Professor at Washington State University, with research interests in language play and humor, cross-cultural interaction, and the development of sociolinguistic competence.

Bob Bowman writes weekly historical columns for more than 80 daily and weekly newspapers in East Texas. “Bob Bowman's East Texas” can be accessed at several web locations, including Texas Escapes. He writes about long-forgotten Texas towns, historic East Texas murders, and quirky examples of Texas language and regionalisms. Bob and his wife Doris have written more than 40 books, won numerous awards, and are among the area’s most popular speakers. Their company Best of East Texas Publishers publishes diverse Texas writers. His talk focuses on “Historical Research.”

Sylvia Dickey Smith, a Central Texas talk radio host, is best known for her Sidra Smart detective series. Smith talks about how she got started in the series and on what she bases the plots, characters, and setting. Her focus is “The Woman Detective.” Born and reared in Orange on the Texas/Louisiana border, Smith says, “Orange has its own gravity. You get out early or you don’t get out at all. I was one of those who left early—right after high school. At times I’ve been glad I left, and at other times, I’ve wished I could move back.” Her next work is a contemporary romance.

Joe Lansdale is widely known for his Hap Collins and Leonard Pine mysteries, and most of his stories are set in East Texas or “Behind the Pine Curtain,” a genre he calls “Mojo Storytelling.” With more than twenty books to his credit, Lansdale is indeed the champion Mojo storyteller, his stories building on the regional myths and legends. He’s been called "an immense talent" by Booklist; "a born storyteller" by Robert Bloch; and The New York Times Book Review declares he has "a folklorist’s eye for telling detail and a front-porch raconteur’s sense of pace." A winner of five Bram Stoker horror awards, a British Fantasy Award, the American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, the "Shot in the Dark" International Crime Writer’s award, the Booklist Editor’s Award, the Critic’s Choice Award, and a New York Times Notable Book award, Lansdale says he has the most decorated mantle in all of Nacogdoches!

Clay Reynolds, native Texan novelist, scholar, and critic, is the author of thirteen books and more than seven hundred other publications ranging from critical studies to short fiction and poems. He additionally has served as fiction editor for literary magazines and as editorial consultant for several university and small presses, bookstores, writer's organizations, and individual writers.

Paul Rogers, co-author of three baseball books, two with Halll of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts, will talk about researching for sports writing in his talk “Just the Facts, Please.” Rogers has published articles and book reviews in various baseball journals. He also served on the advisory committee for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum's "Texas Baseball" exhibit in 2003–04. Since 2000 he has served as president of the Hall-Ruggles (Dallas-Fort Worth) Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). He is also the series editor for the SMU Press's Sport in American Life series. He is a professor of law and former dean of the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University, and of counsel to the firm of Locke Lord Liddell & Bissell, where he specializes in antitrust law.