Finding the Fredericksburg Literary Scene

In June, I enjoyed a brief stop in Fredericksburg, Texas. While this was by no means my first trip to this amazing town, it was the first time I could enjoy some time with a fellow book lover. If you ever have a chance to stop here, I highly recommend:

1. Fredericksburg Book Festival: Held annually in January (with the next event scheduled for January 16, 2027), showcasing prominent regional authors like Lawrence Wright and Sandra Cisneros.

2. Books on Main: A downtown shop at 409 E Main St featuring Texana, Texas history, and regional fiction.

3. Easy Company Books & Coffee is a cozy, independent bookstore and cafe located in the heart of downtown. Inspired by the legacy and resilience of World War II’s famous "Easy Company" paratroopers, this literary spot serves as a welcoming community hub at 308 E Main Street.

4. Pioneer Memorial Library: Housed in an 1881 historic former courthouse at 115 W. Main St, serving as a central community and literary anchor

5. Historic Pioneer School House Museum: The historic one-room schoolhouse in Fredericksburg, Texas, is located on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum.

How about you? Have you been to Fredericksburg, Texas? Have you visited any of these stops?

Labor Day and 25th Anniversary of 9/11

This week offers Americans the chance to commemorate two different historical priorities as well as a chance to read books and watch movies that honor both occasions.

First, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

In 1906, Upton Sinclair published The Jungle. His goal was to expose the deplorable conditions at factories in Chicago and other American cities.

In 1979 Irving Ravetech and Harriet Frank Jr. gave us the screenplay for Norma Rae - a young single mother and textile worker who agrees to help unionize her mill despite the dangers involved.

Interested in a few more "labor" themed books? Check out this list of twenty best labor day books.

Secondly, The 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks occurs this week on Friday. Veterans Affairs (VA) cemeteries and communities nationwide are hosting volunteer events and National Day of Service and Remembrance activities to honor the victims and first responders.

Meanwhile, many reports indicate President Trump and other national leaders plan to mark the solemn anniversary at the Pentagon memorial site rather than Ground Zero.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is holding its annual commemoration ceremony at the Memorial Plaza, where families of victims will read aloud the names of those lost. Many other institutions, including Penn State University and Hanscom Air Force Base, are also hosting events and ceremonies to remember the attacks and honor the victims and first responders. You can also participate in the #RemembertheSky digital commemoration or the 9/11 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience offered by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. 

How to Observe the 25th Anniversary

A live Broadcast: 9/11 Memorial Museum

• Attend a Ceremony: The main event is at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, with family members reading the names of the victims, according to a Facebook post. Many other commemorative ceremonies, such as one at Hanscom Air Force Base and Sherwood Island State Park in Connecticut, will also be taking place. 
• Participate in Digital Events: Join the #RemembertheSky digital commemoration by posting a photo of the sky, or take part in the 9/11 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. 
• Leave a Tribute: Visit neverforget.org/remember to leave a message of remembrance and tribute on the Remembrance Wall. 
• Learn from First-Person Accounts: The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers a 30-minute film with personal stories from first responders, family members, and other survivors.
• Watch from home: National Geographic releases emotional 9/11 special to commemorate the 25th anniversary. See more: https://abc7ny.com/post/national-geographic-releases-emotional-trailer-new-911-special-reunited/19658054/
• See some of my thoughts and experiences with students today: click links below.

How about you? What are some of your favorite labor inspired reads? Do you remember? Are you doing anything to commemorate this day? Is your town? To learn more about this event and how to commemorate. check out the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

IWSG: Archetypes and Other Repeats

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

SEPTEMBER QUESTION - Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing?

MY ANSWER - I don't think I have one archetype that I gravitate toward, but I've noticed I usually have at least one character who is oblivious to some fact that other characters pick up on faster. I think I do this because I have so often felt like I was clueless about something or someone.

How about you? Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing?

9 Submission Opportunities for August

 1. Anti-Heroin Chic due August 26^th https://heroinchic.weebly.com

2. Crescendo Magazine due August 30^th: https://crescmag.org/CM_submissions.html

3. Tyche Books: Slapshots in Space and Magical Marathons: A Speculative Sports Anthology - This anthology “invites contributors to re-examine sports through space opera, near- or far-future science fiction, alternative worlds, time travel, magical realism, fantasy, or other lenses that fall under the umbrella of speculative fiction. Steampunk, hopepunk, science gone bad, social commentary, or just plain laugh-out-loud fun—all of these and more are fair game. Writers can (but are not required to) explore questions such as: Will future athletes be forced to accept invasive technologies in the name of better performance? In a dystopian world, how might sport be a beacon of hope? How might fantasy elements change the way we engage in, and with, sport? Sports can be recreational or competitive, solo or teams, but for the purposes of this anthology we aren’t looking for stories and poems about board games, video games, etc. Any perspective (fan, athlete, coach, game official, broadcaster, etc.) is welcome.” They also say, “Humour is a bonus. Light or psychological horror will be an easier sell than blood-and-gore or outright violence. We will not accept pieces that promote or support racism, sexism, homophobia, or other forms of intolerance.” Please note, they may give preference to Canadian authors. Deadline: 31 August 2026. Length: 1,000-5,000 words for fiction, up to 60 lines for poetry (more for prose poems). Pay: $50/story, $20 per poem. Details here.

4. Cryptic Frog Quarterly: Endless Archives, Entrancing TomesThey want speculative fiction for their first anthology. “We are seeking speculative short stories with some kind of supernatural or futuristic library or book as a central component of the narrative. Speculative fiction consists of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, in all of their various subgenres. … All pieces (including horror pieces) must include speculative elements that are integral to the story.” Please read their detailed guidelines, including hard sells. Deadline: Open now. Length: 2,000-7,500 words. Pay: $10. Details here. (Unthemed submissions for speculative fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for their magazine, Cryptic Frog Quarterly, will reopen on 1^st September 2026.)

5 - 9. https://authorspublish.com/5-paying-literary-magazines-to-submit-to-in-august-2026/

Bandersnatch

In my most recent IWSG post I shared that I wish I was a part of a group like The Inklings. Several reached out to me to find out who that was, or where they might learn more. I am currently reading Bandersnatch and recommend it to anyone interested in C.S. Lewis, his brother, J.R.R. Tolkien, or any of the other members of their writing circle.

The Inklings met each week to read and discuss each other's work-in-progress, offering both encouragement and blistering critique. How did these conversations shape the books they were writing? How does creative collaboration enhance individual talent? And what can we learn from their example?

Featuring full-page illustrations by James A. Owen, Bandersnatch offers an inside look at this group of Oxford, and a seat at their table at the Eagle and Child pub. It shows how encouragement and criticism made all the difference in The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and dozens of other books written by the members of their band. You'll learn what made these writers tick, and more: inspired by their example, you'll discover how collaboration can help your own creative process and lead to genius breakthroughs in whatever work you do.

This book is written by Diana Pavlac Glyer, an award-winning writer, who has spent more than 40 years combing through archives and studying old manuscripts. She is a leading expert on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Inklings. Her book The Company They Keep changed the way we talk about these writers. While that book was aimed at readers of those authors, Bandersnatch offers current writers insight about the Inklings and their creative process, telling their story in a way that is accessible and very practical. Her scholarship, her teaching, and her work as an artist all circle back to one common theme: creativity thrives in community.

How about you? Have you read this book? Are you a fan of any of these authors?

National Book Lovers Day 2026

I hope you're enjoying an excellent read today!

If you've never heard of this celebration, National Book Lovers Day harnesses all the excitement bibliophiles feel about books into one celebration on August 9th. *Bibliophile – a person who has a great appreciation for or collects books.

A day for all those who love to read, National Book Lovers Day encourages you to find your favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or non-fiction) and read the day away. This unofficial holiday encourages bibliophiles to disconnect from technological distractions, cancel plans, and spend the day reading. People typically observe it by visiting local libraries or curling up with a good book However, why should we only celebrate for a signal day? I hope you're able to enjoy reading every day. If not, at least give yourself the weekend to partake.

Curious about the history of this day, or how others are spending it? Check out: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-book-lovers-day-august-9/  For even more information For more information on the history and traditions surrounding this unofficial holiday, check out the National Book Lovers Day page on Wikipedia or read the National Book Lovers Day Overview provided by National Today.

How About you? WHAT ARE YOU READING?

IWSG: Regrets and Wishes

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

AUGUST QUESTION - As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

MY ANSWER - For my regrets, it would be all the times that I listened to the inner critic or others which drove me to give up writing at multiple points in my life. For wishes, it would be to find an amazing mentor, join a writer's group like The Inklings, and to inspire a new generation of authors to enjoy reading as well as to find their own voices. 

How about you? As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?