Texas authors headline
this year's Writers' Fest
By Andrew E. Maggs
Staff Writer
Journalist, poet laureate, true crime author
among those to speak at two-day event on campus
Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, there will
be plenty for potential writers to learn from
the Writers’ Fest coming to North Lake College
March 30 and 31.
Well-known local writers will appear at the event
to read from their works and answer questions
from students.
“Because we were limited in funds for this
event, we chose authors who are fairly close by,”
said Dr. Nancy Castilla, head of the planning
committee for the Writers’ Fest. “We
also wanted to have a variety in our choice —
writers who have written poetry, short stories,
novels, non-fiction books and non-fiction articles
and essays.”
Among the writers in attendance will be Jane
Roberts Wood, who has had several short stories
published and five novels. Others include Bryan
Woolley, a senior writer for The Dallas Morning
News who has six published novels, and Tom Dodge,
who has published five non-fiction titles.
Dr. Cleatus Rattan, the Texas 2004-2005 Poet
Laureate, and Carlton Stowers, an author of murder
mysteries and non-fiction literature who has been
writing since 1971, are expected to attend.
Stowers’ 1994 novel Open Secrets: A True
Story of Love, Jealousy and Murder is about a
Richardson woman, Rozanne Gailiunas, who was murdered
by a man hired by Joy D. Aylor. Aylor is the scorned
socialite wife of Gailiunas’ lover. This
novel is timely and relevant because George A.
Hooper, the man hired to commit the murder, was
put to death March 8, and Stowers’ book
details the entire account.
Students can attend each writer’s scheduled
appearance at no charge. Time will be allotted
for students to ask questions and talk with the
authors about writing and publishing.
Every writer will sell copies of their respective
novels and autograph any of their books that the
students bring.
NLC has a long history of allowing writers to
come to the campus and share their experiences
with students.
“The first one occurred when NLC was young;
we had Larry McMurtry and Ken Kesey,” Castilla
said. “We had several such events over the
years, and then Gary Swaim had a Writers’
Feast for two or three years. This is the first
one we have had in several years and we are hoping
for a huge turnout.”
The Writers’ Fest will take place March
30 and 31 in the library starting at 12:30 p.m.
until 1:30 p.m., and again with another speaker
at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Castilla at 972-273-3413.
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