The 2025 Hill Country Literary Festival at Bulverde’s Mammen Family Public Library (MFPL) proved so popular that staff realized a second wasn’t optional.
Hundreds of more readers are expected at the 2026 Hill Country Literary Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at the library, 131 Bulverde Crossing. The event is free and open to all ages.
The festival includes author panels, book sales, workshops, character meet-and-greets, local authors, food trucks and more.
Adults can expect a full day of author panels, book sales and workshops.
A Zine Studio is planned for teens, while kids will hear from children’s author Dianna Hutts Aston and enjoy craft activities.
Bluey + Bingo will make an appearance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the vendor area.
Aston, author of many internationally acclaimed books celebrating the awe and wonder of nature, is the children’s keynote speaker.
Kelsey Cox — herself a patron of MFPL — will deliver the festival keynote address.
The author of Party of Liars and Pretty Dead Things received her MFA in fiction from Purdue University.
Also at Saturday’s event will be featured authors and panelists Avrel Seale, Nature’s Narratives; Scott Semegran, Paths to Publishing workshop; Julie DeWess Sparks, Writing Texas History panel; Nicole Leconte, Moonlight Books, Bookbinding & Repair workshop; James Wade, Genre panel; Isa Arsen, author/moderator Genre panel; Pam Penick, Nature’s Narratives; Joel Kitchens, Writing Texas History panel; Etta Easton, Genre panel; Wondra Chang, Genre panel; Lori Mammen, Keynote moderator; David Ladenson, Nature’s Narratives; Nick Pitarra, Illustration workshop; Max Booth, Genre panel; and Vincent T. Davis, Writing Texas History panel.
Representatives with the Writer’s League of Texas also will attend the festival.
Library Director Montana Rindahl said around a dozen library employees organized this year’s programming initiative.
She earned her master’s degree in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017.
As a student, Rindahl attended the Texas Book Festival, founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, which celebrates its 31st year in November.
San Antonio followed suit with the San Antonio Book Festival, which turns 14 in April.
MFPL’s programming team decided it was time for a festival in Bulverde — “like if you can’t travel or you just want to do something a little more local.
“Last year was the first year that we ever tried it and it was very successful,” she said. “People are really excited and they were like, ‘we can’t wait to come back next year. And we said I guess we’re having one next year.”
Canyon Lake residents who want to check out books from MFPL can apply for a library card.
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