Teen Bookfest by The Bay Hosts Their 8th Annual Event

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Attendees at the event look through books for sale. Photo by Lillian Crane

Lillian Crane, Photographer
February 28, 2023

On Saturday Feb. 4, Teen Bookfest By The Bay hosted their 8th annual local reading event in Corpus Christi.

The event was held at the American Bank Center and welcomed teen readers all across Texas to come meet and learn from authors in attendance. Teen readers also had the opportunity to take part in a writing workshop, illustration workshop, and some manga-themed events. 

People looking at tables of vendors indoors
Attendees at the event look at various vending tables presented by many local small businesses. Photo by Lillian Crane

Ana Lisa Lawhon, President of the bookfest planning committee, explained how she wanted an event for teens to celebrate books that were closer to home. “In September 2012, another librarian and I took a bus full of kids to the Austin Teen Bookfest (now the Texas Teen Book Festival). We spent most of the day traveling and missed a lot of the festival. I was telling someone that we should have a book festival in Corpus Christi and she mentioned that she knew another area librarian that had been saying the same thing.” Lawhon went on to meet Debbie VanZandt, Vice President of the bookfest planning committee, and they went on to start the event in 2015.

Two authors at panel indoors
Liara Tamani, author of What She Missed, listens in awe as Alda P. Dobbs, author of The Other Side of the River, as she tells the story that inspired her novels. Photo by Lillian Crane
Three different authors at same panel smiling indoors
Panelists laugh with each other as they answer questions at the panels. Photo by Lillian Crane
Three different authors at same panel laughing indoors
Panelists laugh with each other as they answer questions at the panels. Photo by Lillian Crane

Jennifer Mathieu, author of Moxie and other young adult novels, has been coming to this event since it began. “What keeps me coming back, is the people that run this festival treat the authors with so much love and they’re so kind to us, and we make it such a wonderful event. And the young readers that come out ask such amazing questions, and they just are so excited to have us here. How could I not come back?”

Vendor showing someone books and jewelry indoors
A vendor shows off her jewelry and books at the event. Photo by Lillian Crane

Additionally, Teen Bookfest by The Bay won an award this year. The Texas State Library Archives Commission presented a $2,000 check for the 2022 Texas Center of the Book Literacy Award to the planning committee of the event. “It takes this whole community, and our judges saw that, so congratulations! Thank you for everything that you do for literacy, reading, and encouraging readers of all ages, especially teens,” Rebekah Manley, Center for the Book Coordinator, said while she presented the award. Manley expressed how the event has applied for the award every year since they started and she was happy they finally got it.

Rebeka Manley and others being presented check
Rebeka Manley, Center for the Book Coordinator, presents a check to the Bookfest planning committee. Photo by Lillian Crane

Lawhon stated that, “I hope our event inspires teens to read for pleasure and encourages budding writers and illustrators to continue working on their craft.” The 8th event continued to create a space for teens around Texas, especially within the coastal bend area, to learn and keep the joy of reading, writing, and illustration alive.

       To learn more about Teen Bookfest By The Bay, visit their website www.tbfbay.org.