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2023 Boerne Book Festival celebrates life of Larry McMurtry

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2023 Boerne Book Festival celebrates life of Larry McMurtry


The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza, Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry, and Beasts of the Earth by James Wade.

Peter Scamardo/Courtesy of Kimberly Garza/Courtesy of James Wade

Book lovers in the Alamo City, you’ll want to mark your calendars for this event, and you won’t even have to travel that far. Boerne is set to host some of the best writers from across the state, including a few notables from the San Antonio area.

The Boerne Book Festival is officially set for October 7, hosting six discussions with 12 Texas authors. The first panel starts at 9:30 a.m. and the last starts at 2:30 p.m. Entry into the festival is free and book signings will be available for all authors. The festival takes place at the Boerne Main Plaza at 100 N. Main St., Boerne, TX 78006.

“We’re fortunate to have some great book festivals in Texas each year, and as a writer, I know you’re not supposed to pick favorites. But my goodness the folks in Boerne really make this one special,” said James Wade, author of Beasts of the Earth. “Everybody involved does a tremendous job to ensure the authors and attendees have a great time. The grounds are beautiful, it’s usually not 100-degrees (though we might put that to the test this year), and the lineups are always Texas-centric, which is sometimes missing at some of the bigger fests.”

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Get to know the authors here:

James Wade.

James Wade.

Courtesy of James Wade

'Beasts of the Earth' book cover.

‘Beasts of the Earth’ book cover.

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Courtesy of James Wade

Obsessed with Texas

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Swann is the author of Olympus, Texas, the story of the Briscoe family in East Texas who come to a chaotic gathering in the style of a Greek tragedy.

“I’m thrilled to be in conversation with the amazingly talented Texas authors, Kim Garza and James Wade, and Becka Oliver of The Writers’ League of Texas,” Swann said. “Book festivals are such a fun way for authors and readers to be in conversation, and I think they are essential to strengthening book communities.”

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Wade is the author of three novels — All Things Left Wild, River Sing Out, and Beasts of the Earth — all of which take a fresh look at the Western genre.

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'The Last Karankawas' by Kimberly Garza, book cover.

‘The Last Karankawas’ by Kimberly Garza, book cover.

Courtesy of Kimberly Garza

Kimberly Garza.

Kimberly Garza.

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Courtesy of Kimberly Garza

Garza published her first novel in 2022, The Last Karankawas. It’s a story that celebrates the diverse communities of Galveston in the lead up to Hurricane Ike.

“The Boerne Book Festival has been a gift to writers and readers in the Hill Country,” Garza said. “As a Uvalde native, I know how special literary events like these can be, ones that draw Texas book enthusiasts and families and authors together, especially in an area like ours. I’m thrilled to be part of the lineup this year, alongside so many writers I admire!”

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Meet Stuart Gibbs

Stuart Gibbs is a middle grade author who has published five bestselling series. He will be presenting on his works Spy School, Fun Jungle, Charlie Thorne, Moon Base Alpha, and The Last Musketeer.

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Local Historians Panel

The panel takes readers back to 1848 with Comanches, Captives, and Germans from Texas A&M University Press. The inspiration comes from Wilhelm Friederich, a German immigrant in Texas, who in the 1840s completed three drawings depicting “Comanches, Germans, a captive girl, a wagon train, the landscape and wildlife of the Texas Hill Country, and dynamic scenes of cultural contact.”

The drawings are considered precious windows into life on the frontier and the four authors in the book — UTSA’s Dr. Daniel J. Gelo and Dr. Christopher J. Wickham, C.B. “Hoppy Hopkins,” and Brynden E. Moore — use their knowledge of Comanche culture, German immigration, and Hill Country history to dissect their importance today.

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The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve nature trails sometimes lead out of the shaded woodlands to glorious views of Texas Hill Country, as in this photo taken from an overlook. 

The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve nature trails sometimes lead out of the shaded woodlands to glorious views of Texas Hill Country, as in this photo taken from an overlook. 

Courtesy of Robin Soslow, Special to MySA

David Hillis

Biologist David M. Hillis of the University of Texas paints a vivid picture of the Texas Hill Country in his book Armadillos to Ziziphus from UT Press. Pulling from five decades of experience, Hillis takes a diverse look at the natural beauty of one of Texas’ most beloved locations.

“My book is about enjoying the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country,” Hillis said. “What better place is there to celebrate and appreciate the Texas Hill Country than from its ‘front porch’ in Boerne? I am looking forward to sharing information from my book with readers who want to experience, protect, restore, and learn more about the natural wonders of a place Texans love to visit, play, and live.”

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Women and War Stories

The panel will hear from authors Jo-Ann Power and Cindy Bonner on the “challenges and joys of writing about women in war” for their respective books.

Power’s Heroic Measures follows Gwen Spencer, an American who travels to France and volunteers as a nurse during World War I. “Braving bombings and the madness of men crazed by the hell of war, she is stunned to discover one man she can love.”

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“Nurturing our public libraries and our local authors inspires others to read and write,” Powers said. “In an age when many books, old and new, are under attack and hurting support for public libraries, the Boerne event shows our citizens that literacy is the foundation of democracy. But more than that, reading and writing are the joys of everyday life for each person, young and old.

Bonner’s For Love and Glory is the story of Lange DeLony, a South Texas crop duster, who in 1940 enlists with the Royal Air Force because the U.S. hasn’t joined WWII. Along the way he meets Canadian ferry pilot Allison “Mackie” MacLeod and the pair begin “a hasty war-time romance that turns into an intense love affair.”

“My now deceased in-laws lived in Boerne for many years so I feel a special connection to the town I watched grow from a small German hamlet in the 1970s to the bustling artistic community it is now,” Bonner said. “The Boerne Book Festival was already on my agenda even before I was invited to participate as a speaker. There’s magic in being surrounded by book lovers, people who are as passionate about reading and about books as you are.”

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Larry McMurtry and his books.Peter Scamardo/Diana Walker/Getty Images

The Wine’d Down: Larry McMurtry

Authors Stephen Harrigan, W.K. Stratton, and Douglas Swanson will join George Getschow to discuss the legacy of Larry McMurtry. Getschow collected written works about McMurtry in his book Pastures of the Empty Page: Fellow Writers on the Life and Legacy of Larry McMurtry, which will be discussed at the festival.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the Boerne Book Festival, which is always lively, informal and navigable,” Harrigan said.

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Harrigan, Stratton, and Swanson — published writers and experts on Texas history in their own right — all contributed to Getschow’s book and will lead the discussion on the creator of Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, and dozens more classic Texas stories.

“(The festival) has a friendly, down-home feel to it. The pace is laid back, yet the participants are all extremely enthusiastic about books and literature,” Stratton said. “Excellent authors are on the program every year, and readers are able to meet them and get books signed without the long lines that occur at other festivals.”

Free wine and bourbon samples from Bending Branch Winery will also be available until they run out.



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Texas weather: How to file insurance claims after hail storm

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Texas weather: How to file insurance claims after hail storm


The possibility of hail was a concern for some residents during Monday’s storms. Many Central Texas communities have been hit hard during the past week. 

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If you have hail damage, make sure you document everything, even picking up hailstones and taking pictures of those can be part of your claim. 

“If they’re that ping pong ball size or bigger, then there’s most likely damage. If you’re getting damage on the hood and the roof of your car, then most likely it’s a good idea to also get your roof inspected on your home,” Rich Johnson, director of communications and public affairs at the Insurance Council of Texas said. 

After you call your insurance company, they will send an adjuster out to assess the damage.

If you want a second opinion, call a contractor. Many of them offer free estimates. 

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“It’s just another way to document it. Especially up on your roof, where you don’t want to be going. They have the equipment and the skills to take pictures and document what’s going on up on your roof,” Johnson said. 

The adjuster will write up an estimate for the insurance company. 

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The Texas Department of Insurance says you can make temporary repairs like covering broken windows, but don’t make permanent repairs until an adjuster sees the damage.

Save any receipts and save proof you paid the deductible on the claim. 

“It’s all based on your insurance contract. You’ll have the deductible, which is the cost out of pocket. The cost of repairs will need to exceed your deductible,” Johnson said.

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 There are also some things you can do before the next storm rolls around. 

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“If you have decking or a shed, or the side, the outside of your home, go ahead and document it before anything happens,” Johnson said. “If you have to store a car outside, and you can’t get it inside, if you have moving blankets or any kind of padded material that might be able to attach to your hood, it might save you that headache down the road of having to file a claim.”

How long the entire process takes depends on the company and how many claims are being made. Johnson says the adjuster can usually come out within a week to ten days.  

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For information from the Insurance Council of Texas, click here.

For more from the Texas Department of Insurance, click here.



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Get to know Texas WR Jordan Whittington | Pick 213

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Get to know Texas WR Jordan Whittington | Pick 213


A well-regarded national recruit, Whittington initially played running back at Texas but battled injuries his first few years. He overcame them and became a critical part of not only the Longhorns’ wide receiver room but program as a whole.

“Because of the experience he had in his time here, the fact that he changed positions, and all that he’s overcome, he’s really a resilient player,” Sarkisian said after Whittington was drafted by the Rams. “That’s something he’s helped so many young players with and a big part of who he is as an unselfish and supportive teammate.”



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Movies and TV shows casting in Texas

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Movies and TV shows casting in Texas


The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey.

Whether you’re a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a list of projects casting right now in Texas, and which roles they’re looking to fill.

Texas open casting calls for movie and TV productions

‘Happiest Place…’
– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Natalie (supporting, female, 15-21)
— Clayton (supporting, male, 25-35)
— Morgan (lead, female, 18-25)
– Average hourly rate: $30
– Casting locations: Dallas, Richmond, Houston, Austin
– Learn more about the short film here

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‘Lone Child’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— August (supporting, female, 9-14)
— Sister Corazon (supporting, female, 18-100)
— Alejandro (supporting, male, 25-35)
– Average hourly rate: $31
– Casting locations: Dallas, Plano, Irving, Fort Worth
– Learn more about the feature film here

‘Loser’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— Marion (supporting, female, 18-35)
— Otis (supporting, male, 18-25)
— Director of Photography (crew)
– Average hourly rate: $15
– Casting locations: Austin, Killeen
– Learn more about the feature film here

‘Paintings’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— Adam (supporting, male, 25-30)
— Kidnapped Girl (day player, female, 18-20)
— Mr. Harden (day player, male, 55-75)
– Average hourly rate: $18
– Casting locations: Houston
– Learn more about the feature film here

‘Echoes of Change’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— Captain Eddard Hawke (supporting, 28-100)
— Luke Stanfield (day player, male, 18-100)
— Mimi Samms (supporting, female, 20-100)
– Average hourly rate: $125
– Casting locations: Houston
– Learn more about the feature film here

‘Spice King’
– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Director of Photography (crew)
— Pinky (supporting, female, 18-26)
— Raj (lead, male, 18-26)
– Average hourly rate: $31
– Casting locations: Houston, Austin
– Learn more about the short film here

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‘Great Gold Bird’
– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Henry (lead, male, 37-50)
– Average hourly rate: $46
– Casting locations: Austin
– Learn more about the short film here

‘Lunch Box’
– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Cat (lead, 28-40)
— Scottie (lead, female, 9-13)
— Orville (supporting, male, 50-70)
– Average hourly rate: $40
– Casting locations: Austin
– Learn more about the short film here

‘Lady Outlaw’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— Belle (supporting, female, 21-35)
— George (lead, male, 30-50)
— Dunn Brothers (supporting, male, 18-25)
– Average hourly rate: $12
– Casting locations: Blanco, Austin, Sabinal, San Antonio
– Learn more about the feature film here

‘A Day In The Park’
– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— April (lead, female, 20-40)
— Camera Operator (crew)
– Average hourly rate: $20
– Casting locations: Porter, Houston, Spring,
– Learn more about the short film here

Nationwide open casting calls for movie and TV productions

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‘Spider-Man: Fallout,’ Fan-Film’
– Project type: short film
– Roles:
— Extras (background extra, 10-70)
— Kindred (lead, male, 22-35)
— Jinx (voiceover, female, 20-30)
– Average hourly rate: not available
– Learn more about the short film here

‘Vanderpump Villa – hit show on Hulu’
– Project type: reality TV
– Roles:
— Celebration Parties With Guests of 6-8 People (lead, 21-100)
— Hospitality Professionals (lead, 21-100)
— Real Fine Dining Servers (lead, 21-50)
– Average hourly rate: not available
– Learn more about the reality TV show here

Open casting calls for movie and TV productions in neighboring states

‘Reality’
– Project type: scripted show
– Roles:
— Bible Study Children (day player, 10-14)
— Football Players (background extra, male, 18-30)
– Average hourly rate: not available
– Casting locations: Marland, Oklahoma
– Learn more about the scripted show here

‘There Should Be Flowers’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— Bradley (supporting, male, non-binary, trans male, 35-55)
— Isabel’s Friends (day player, 16-25)
— Murphy (day player, 35-70)
– Average hourly rate: $25
– Casting locations: Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Los Lunas, New Mexico
– Learn more about the feature film here

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‘Bayou Horse’
– Project type: feature film
– Roles:
— Laura (lead, female, 24-38)
– Average hourly rate: $20
– Casting locations: New Orleans, Louisiana
– Learn more about the feature film here

This story was produced by Backstage and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.

© Stacker 2024. All rights reserved.



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