.
This year's festival welcomes New York Times bestselling author of the young adult fantasy Beasts of Prey trilogy, Ayana Gray. The festival also proudly features the University of Arkansas Program in Creative Writing and Translation Fall 2022 Walton Distinguished Visiting Writer, K-Ming Chang as well as award-winning children's nonfiction author Susan Campbell Bartoletti.
Entering our 9th year, True Lit will showcase author events for all ages with the intention of reaching over 4,000 4th–12th grade students. It will include writing workshops designed to help new talent find publishers, as well as poetry readings and art classes to spark the creativity in everyone.
Tuesday, November 1, 6pm
Walker Community Room
Ayana Gray is a young adult fantasy author and a lover of all things monsters, mythos and magic. She is the author of the instant bestsellers "Beasts of Prey" and "Beasts of Ruin". In this blockbuster fantasy series, fate binds two Black teenagers together as they strike a dangerous alliance to hunt down the ancient creature menacing their home, and discover much more than they bargained for. Her works have been translated in ten languages across five continents and are being adapted for feature film.
Books will be available for sale and signing following Ayana's talk.
Wednesday, November 2, 7pm
Walker Community Room
The Arkansas International and the University of Arkansas Program in Creative Writing & Translation are proud to present their Fall 2022 Walton Distinguished Visiting Writer, acclaimed novelist K-Ming Chang. K-Ming Chang is the author of the story collection "Gods of Want" and the novel "Bestiary", which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award.
Books will be available for sale and signing following the event.
Thursday, November 3, 6pm
Reception Room
Bartoletti has been called a “fearless researcher.” Her nonfiction subjects include child labor, the Great Irish Famine, Hitler Youth, the KKK, the woman who became known as Typhoid Mary and women's suffrage.
Her engaging work has received dozens of awards and honors, including the Newbery Honor, the ALA Robert F. Sibert Award for Nonfiction, the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Nonfiction, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor for picture book writing, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction, the Pennsylvania Library Association Carolyn W. Field Award and the Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award.
Books will be available for sale and signing following the event.
Teen Owl Pellet Dissection (Grades 5–12) *
Starr Foundation Children's Craft Room, 4:30pm
Owls leave a telling trace after consuming a meal. Teens are invited to dissect their own owl pellet and uncover the skeletal remains of very hungry a bird.
An Evening with Ayana Gray
Walker Community Room, 6pm
Ayana Gray is the New York Times bestselling author of the Beasts of Prey trilogy. Books will be available for sale and signing following Ayana's talk.
Preschool Story Time with Ashley Clontz (Ages 3–5)
Story Time Room, 9:30am
Ashley Clontz will read her book "Giraffe, What Do You Like to Eat?"
DIY Mask Decorating *
Teen Project Room, 5pm
Decorate a mask just in time for the November 4th Masquerade Party.
Distinguished Reader K-Ming Chang
Walker Community Room, 7pm
K-Ming Chang will read and discuss some of her works. She is the author of the story collection "Gods of Want" and the novel "Bestiary", which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award.
Writing Children's Nonfiction with Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Reception Room, 6pm
Award-winning author Susan Campbell Bartoletti will speak about her experience in writing children's nonfiction.
Story Time with Ashley Franklin
Story Time Room, 10am
Ashley Franklin, author of "Not Quite Snow White" and "Better Together, Cinderella", shares a story time for kids!
Writing Emotionally Impactful Fiction with Dani Abernathy *
Walker Community Room, 1pm
This workshop will help novelists identify the Four Keys to Emotionally Impactful Fiction.
Teen Masquerade Party (Grades 5–12) *
Event Center, 6pm
In honor of True Lit featured author Ayana Gray's book "Beasts of Prey", we invite you to a jungle themed masquerade party.
Super Saturday: Fishin' Magicians
Event Center, 10am
Enjoy some fun, magic, laughs and fishing with the Fishin' Magicians.
Cooking Demo with Cookbook Author, Suzanne Billings, Jarcuterie
Teaching Kitchen, 11:30am
Join cookbook author Suzanne Billings for a cooking demonstration from her latest book "Jarcuterie".
All About Literary Agents with Kate Hart
Reception Room, 11:30am
Writers interested in pursuing traditional publishing will get an introduction to working with literary agents.
Publisher & Agent Pitch Sessions *
Walker Community Room, 1pm
Join us for the opportunity to pitch your work to literary agents and publishers. Writers may sign up for an individual one-on-one session with the publisher or literary agent of their choice.
Comics Workshop with Zeke Peña (Grades 5–12) *
Teen Project Room, 2pm
Cartoonist Zeke Peña hosts a teen comics workshop with an emphasis on character design.
Songwriting with Dino O'Dell (Grades 4–8) *
Story Time Room, 2:30pm
An energetic and fun approach to songwriting for kids and teens.
SoNA presents Peter & the Wolf / Pedro y el Lobo
Event Center, 3pm
Families are invited to experience this familiar tale and iconic music with narration in English and Spanish.
Sign up for our email newsletters!
Get the latest about Library events, new programs and services, and other Library news delivered to your inbox.
Support the library!
With generous support from our community and people like you, our community can enjoy a facility that goes well beyond books.
