Austin Writer, Austin Author, Austin Poetry And Austin Book Festival

The annual Austin International Poetry Festival (AIPF) is the world's largest non-juried poetry festival. Events are free and open to the public. Festival events take place in multiple venuesin around Austin. This annual celebration of poets and poetry includes live local readings, poetry workshops, open mics, anthology competitions and readings, a poetry slam, movie presentation, poetry all-nighter and a poetry symposium. An average of 250 poets from all across Texas and from around the world register to perform in AIPF's four days of city-wide events. The Austin International Poetry Festival is usually held annually in April, which is national poetry month. However, the dates for the 2012 Austin International Poetry Festival and 20th Anniversary Celebration are Thursday September 27, Friday, September 28, Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30, 2012.

Originally a small bookstore opened in 1970 near the University of Texas called Grok Books (after the Robert A. Heinlein book Stranger in a Strange Land) today BookPeople is the largest independent bookstore in Texas. Located adjacent to the Whole Foods flagship store downtown at 6th and Lamar, this multi story 40,000 square feet bookstore sells books, magazines, audio books, cards and stationary, jewelry, gifts and arts and crafts from around the world. Voted “The Best Bookstore in Austin” by readers of the Austin Chronicle every year since 1984, BookPeople has a comfortable atmosphere filled with nooks and crannies where you can curl up in an armchair with an old favorite or a new discovery. BookPeople has frequent booksignings and events that showcase local and national authors. The store also contains BookKids (BookPeople for Kids and Teens) and a schedule of literary camps and events for young people.

The Jewish Community Association of Austin is a gathering place and community support center for Jews living in the Austin area. Located primarily on the 40-acre Dell Jewish Community Campus in Northwest Austin, the Jewish Community Association of Austin provides a wide provides a wide range of services and programs, including early childhood enrichment classes, parenting programs, programs for youth and teens, acting and dance classes, fitness classes, sport leagues, aquatics programs and support groups for families and senior adults. The Jewish Community Association of Austin also sponsors arts and cultural events with partnerships with Austin performing arts facilities, an art gallery on the campus, the Austin Jewish Book Fair and the Austin Jewish Film Festival featuring renowned authors and scholars, nationally acclaimed comedians, international films and theatrical performances. The 28th Annual Austin Jewish Book Fair is scheduled for November 3 through 12, 2011.