Hallowed Ground

There's nothing mystical about books – just pages and binding, really. But if you've ever wandered the Capitol grounds in the middle of the annual Texas Book Festival, chances are you've been hit with a bit of a holy feeling. It's in the hushed tones of hallways, in the communion between two perfect strangers queuing up for the same talk, in the quiet thrill at brushing elbows with an author who may also be a hero.

But let's get back to more earthly concerns. What follows just skims the surface of all that's on offer this weekend. Author events are for the most part free and open to the public, and the majority take place in or around the centrally located state Capitol (11th and Congress). For more information – including the full schedule, signings, and shopping – see www.texasbookfestival.org. For more of our 2008 Texas Book Festival preview, see "Food for Thought."