By Cynthia Leitich Smith

This week’s highlight was the Texas Book Festival in Austin.

Bethany Hegedus hosted the Children’s-YA author/moderator party at The Writing Barn.

Stephanie Pellegrin, Cynthia Leitich Smith and Nikki Loftin. Photo by Bethany Hegedus.

Donna Bowman Bratton & Shelli Cornelison

Kelly Bennett, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Liz Mertz, Liz Garton Scanlon

E. Kristin Anderson

Cinda Williams Chima & Katie Bartow of Mundie Moms

Shelley Ann Jackson & Professor Sharon O’Neal of Texas State University

Vanessa Lee & Sean Petrie

Micheal Grant & Paolo Bacigalupi

Winifred Conkling & Greg Leitich Smith

Amy Rose Capetta & Salima Alikhan

Roasting marshmallows around the fire.

Greg with Gary Schmidt at Anita Silvey‘s presentation.

Greg was a featured author for Chronal Engine (Clarion, 2012).

Penguin sales rep Jill Bailey

Kelly Bennett in action

Phil Yates

Rebecca Stead & Margo Rabb

Chris Barton & Jennifer Ziegler

Kinky Friedman, Elaine Scott & Jo Whittemore

Back row: R. Gregory Christie, E. Kristin Anderson, Don Tate, Roger (Jo Whittemore’s husbanf), Liz Garton Scanlon; front row: Greg Leitich Smith, Jen Bigheart, K.A. Holt, Sean Petrie

Amy Rose Capetta & Samantha Clark

Rob Scotton & Dave Wilson (Nikki Loftin‘s husband)

Jenny Han

Andrea Cremer, Jennifer Ziegler, Shana Burg

Bethany Hegedus & Jon Sczieska

Roland Smith at The Driskill Hotel

And there are a few more photos to come!

Cynsational Notes

Texas Book Festival Photos by Greg Leitich Smith from GregLSBlog and Texas Book Festival Report by Don Tate. See also It’s a Wrap: Austin Comic Con 2012 by P.J. Hoover from Roots In Myth.