Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable
contrast.
True Lit is back for its 10th year to showcase author events! From October 14–26, students and patrons are all invited to attend writing workshops designed to help new talent find publishers, poetry readings, art classes, and more meant to spark the creativity in everyone.
The 2023 True Lit festival welcomes several notable authors, including bestselling author of the Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine! Also being featured this year is Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of over 30 novels, including Scythe and Unwind. Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for the Star Wars: The High Republic comics, will offer his expertise in a class about narrative fundamentals – just one of the many workshops that will be available this year! The festival also proudly features the University of Arkansas Program in Creative Writing and Translation Fall 2023 Distinguished Visiting Writer.
Tuesday, October 17, 6pm
Walker Community Room
Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty novels for children, teens, and adults. He won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature for Challenger Deep, and his novel Scythe was a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor book and is in development to be a feature film with Universal Studios. He is currently cowriting the pilot episode of Netflix’s adaption of his “timely, speculative thought experiment in perspective, privilege, and identity” (Kirkus Reviews) Game Changer.
Books will be available for sale and signing following Neal's talk.
Wednesday, October 18, 6pm
Walker Community Room
In this course, New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older will discuss his experience as a writer and help participants explore the basic elements of story – character, context, craft, and conflict – taking them to the next level to create narratives that touch on deeper concepts of craft and thematic structure.
Daniel José Older is a lead story architect for Star Wars: The High Republic, and is the New York Times bestselling author of the sci-fi adventure Flood City, the monthly comic series The High Republic Adventures, and the urban fantasy series Star Wars: Last Shot. His book Shadowshaper, the first in the Shadowshaper Cypher series, was named one of the best fantasy books of all time by TIME magazine and one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read.
Books will be for sale and signing following Daniel's talk.
Thursday, October 26, 6:30pm
Event Center
R.L. Stine is the author of the internationally bestselling Goosebumps series, and he has been writing horror stories and scaring young readers for over thirty years. The Goosebumps series has sold more than 400 million copies in the United States, and the Guinness Book of World Records cited Stine as the bestselling series author in history.
Stine is a three-time recipient of both the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and the Disney Adventures Kids’ Choice Awards. He also won the Thriller Writers of America Silver Bullet Award in 2007 and the Horror Writers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Books will be available for sale and signing following the event.
ASL interpretation and CART captioning will be provided.
Super Saturday: The Kinders
The Willard and Pat Walker Community Room, 10am
The Kinders will be joining FPL for a fun Saturday of singing and dancing!
Screenwriting Workshop with Fayetteville Film Festival *
Ann Henry Board Room, 10am
This workshop will introduce participants to the tools and process of creating a screenplay for film and television. No previous experience required.
Kat Robinson, "The Great Arkansas Pie Book"
Ziegler Reception Room, 11am
Author and food historian Kat Robinson will discuss her latest book, The Great Arkansas Pie Book. A pie tasting of selected recipes will also be available to try. Books will be available for sale and signing following the event.
Publisher & Agent Pitch Sessions *
Walker Community Room, 1pm
This is an opportunity for writers to pitch their work to literary agents and publishers. They may sign up for an individual one-on-one session with the publisher or literary agent of their choice. Pitches are verbal and are limited to 10 minutes.
Self-Publishing Panel Discussion
Walker Community Room, 2pm
A panel discussion on self-publishing with several local self-published authors.
Exploring the Mysteries of Self Through Metaphor with Suzanne Underwood Rhodes, Poet Laureate of Arkansas *
First Security Bank Board Room, 5pm
In this poetry workshop, Suzanne Underwood Rhodes will share several poems, some of her own and some from notables like Li- Young Lee, Mary Oliver, Barbara Crooker, and Phillip Howerton, to illustrate metaphors based in nature concepts. Participants will do a short writing exercise.
An Evening with Neal Shusterman
Walker Community Room, 6pm
New York Times bestselling novelist Neal Shusterman will hold a presentation discussing his work. He has written over thirty novels for children, teens, and adults, including the award-winning Scythe. Books will be available for sale and signing following the event. It is first-come, first-served with a capacity of 650.
Story Time with Ashley Franklin
Walmart Story Time Room, 10:30am
Ashley Franklin will share her recent release, Disney's The Little Mermaid, in a special storytime during our usual Toddler Time.
Narrative Fundamentals with Daniel José Older
Walker Community Room, 6pm
New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older will lead a course that explores the basic elements of story: character, context, craft, and conflict.
Elephant and Piggie Party (Grades K–2) *
Children's Craft Room, 4pm
Ms. Emily and Ms. Jessica will highlight some books, crafts, and snacks to celebrate Mo Willem's famous characters: Elephant & Piggie! Costumes are encouraged.
Teen Calavera Painting (Grades 5–12) *
Teen Project Room, 4:30pm
Teens will paint ceramic skulls in preparation for Día de los Muertos. All materials will be provided.
True Lit: Distinguished Reader Ladee Hubbard *
Walker Community Room, 7pm
The Arkansas International and the University of Arkansas Program in Creative Writing & Translation proudly present their Fall 2023 Walton Distinguished Visiting Writer, acclaimed novelist Ladee Hubbard. Books will be available for sale and signing following the event.
Author Talk with Sidney Thompson
Walker Community Room, 2pm
Author Sidney Thompson will celebrate the publication of his latest installment in the historical fiction Bass Reeves trilogy, The Forsaken and the Dead.
Teen Horror Writing Workshop with Andrea L. Rogers, author of Man Made Monsters (Grades 5–12) *
Walker Community Room, 4:30pm
Students will learn how to craft scary stories in this special workshop led by Andrea L. Rogers. Supplies will be provided and registration is encouraged.
Horror Writing Workshop with Andrea L. Rogers, author of Man Made Monsters *
Walker Community Room, 6pm
Participants will learn how to craft scary stories in this special workshop led by Andrea L. Rogers. Supplies will be provided and registration is encouraged.
Goosebumps (PG) Film Screening
Walmart Story Time Room, 4:30pm
Join us for a free screening of Goosebumps just in time for R.L. Stine's visit.
Creative Commons for Writers & Creators
Ann Henry Board Room, 6pm
This workshop will discuss Creative Commons (CC) licenses, which allow creators to give others permission to use, share, and adapt your creations in the ways they choose. Participants will earn how to apply CC licenses to their work and how to find CC-licensed material created by others.
Literary Yoga
Art & Movement Room, 10:30am
Put a literary twist into your yoga session. This class merges the motion of yoga with short, literary readings to relax your mind.
Goosebumps 2 (PG) Film Screening
Walmart Story Time Room, 4:30pm
Join us for a free screening of Goosebumps 2 just in time for R.L. Stine's visit
An Evening with R. L. Stine
Event Center, 6:30pm
Author of the Goosebumps series R.L. Stine will discuss his writing in a moderated discussion. The Guinness Book of World Records cited R.L. Stine as the bestselling series author in history. Books will be available for sale and signing following the event. It is first-come, first-served with a capacity of 650.
Ballad & Dagger
Daniel José Older
