TOP PHOTO: (from top left, clockwise): Texas author PJ Hoover, Kristine Hall, & Texas author Jessica Lee Anderson; Texas authors Leah Bowen & Holly Brochmann; Kristine & Texas author Hugh Fitsimons; Michelle Newby Lancaster, Texas author Lara Prescott, Kristine; front of The Book Haus; Kristine and bookseller Claudia Maceo of San Antonio's The Twig Book Shop; Texas illustrator Jared Chapman and Kristine; Michelle, author Noelle Salazar, and Kristine: Michelle and author Jennifer Weiner.

Lone Star Literary Life was proud to be a corporate sponsor for the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association Spring Conference held in New Braunfels, Texas, March 28-29, 2019.  Owner and publisher Kristine Hall and managing editor Michelle Newby Lancaster were in attendance at the historic Faust Hotel as author Jennifer Weiner kicked-off the conference as keynote speaker, and then she signed copies of her upcoming June release, MRS. EVERYTHING. 

On day one, to-be-read lists were built as publishers Penguin Random House, Hachette, and Simon and Schuster book-talked upcoming releases, and MPIBA Executive Director Heather Duncan was master of ceremonies and led educational sessions.  An afternoon meet and mingle took attendees to New Braunfels's local indie book store, The Book Haus, and then authors joined attendees for dinner, book talks, and signings to end the evening. The Author! Author! Dinner featured Fernando Flores (TEARS OF THE TRUFFLE PIG*), Lara Prescott (THE SECRETS WE KEPT*), Noelle Salazar (THE FLIGHT GIRLS*), Susan Kralovansky (THE BOOK THAT JAKE BORROWED), Hugh Fitzsimons (A ROCK BETWEEN TWO RIVERS**) and Jared Chapman (DIDI DODO, FUTURE SPY: RECIPE FOR DISASTER).  * Featured upcoming Lone Star Reviews; ** Recently featured Lone Star Review

Day two of the conference started with breakfast with authors Charlie Llewellin (WALKING AUSTIN), P.J. Hoover (THE HIDDEN CODE), Holly Brochmann & Leah Bowen (A FEEL BETTER BOOK FOR LITTLE TEARS), Amy Bearce (SHORTCUTS), Geanna Culbertson (CRISANTA KNIGHT: TO DEATH AND BACK), and Andy Mientus (THE BACKSTAGERS). Educational sessions followed. 

(Bottom Photos: Left to Right: historical marker for The Faust Hotel; MPIBA staff welcome table; author Fernando Flores; Texas author Amy Bearce and Kristine; mural in New Braunfels; Kristine and Texas author (and fellow librarian) Susan Kralovansky; Kristine, Claudia Maceo, and author Andy Mientus; author Charlie Llewellin)