GAB Fest 2027 Author Application | Austin Public Library

Join us for the Greater Austin Book Festival at the Central Library! GAB Fest is an opportunity for authors and illustrators to connect and engage with readers. We feature literary guests from Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties. The Library encourages our community to celebrate their appreciation for literature together. 

The application period will open October 19 and close on December 18, 2026. We hope to inform applicants of our decision by February 1, 2027. GAB Fest will be held at the Central Library (710 W. César Chávez) from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, May 1, 2027.

Please review the eligibility criteria before you begin your application.

About You

First Name

Last Name

How do you pronounce your name?

Pronouns

Do you write under any pen names? If so, please list them.

County of Residence

Travis County

Williamson County

Hays County

Residential Zip Code

Phone Number

Website

Social Media Links

Have you been part of GAB Fest before?

2024

2025

2026

I have not yet participated

About Your Work

Your answers in this section help us curate a diverse selection of work for the festival. We aim to connect you with readers for your audience and genre. If you write for many audiences or in many genres, we recommend answering with your latest publication in mind.

Which age group is your primary audience?

Young Children

Middle Grade

Young Adult

Adult

Please select a primary genre to describe your work.

Please write in one secondary genre to describe your work.

Bibliography of published books. Please include as much information as possible, including: book title, co-authors, ISBNs, publisher, publication date.

Have you used generative AI to create your work, including the text or artwork? If so, please explain how it was used and to what extent.

Please submit a writing sample. The sample should be at least 2,000 words or 2 chapters and in .pdf, .doc, or .docx file format. If you create graphic novels or picture books, submit 6 consecutive pages from your work in .pdf, .jpg, or .png file format.

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, jpeg, jpg, png. Maximum size: 3 MB.

We accept the following file formats: .pdf, .docx, .doc, .png, .jpg. File size limit is 3 MB.

Festival Participation

Do you intend to table and sell books?

Yes

The Library is waiving the standard 10% fee, so all profits from sales go directly to you. Authors are responsible for selling their own books. The Library will not coordinate book sales.

What level of additional participation are you interested in?

Panelist

Program/workshop leader

I'm up for anything!

Tell us about any writing workshops you’ve led or panels you’ve participated in before.

Tell us about a panel topic you’d like to be a part of, or a program idea that would be a good fit for GAB Fest.

Please let us know if there are any panel topics you prefer to avoid.

There may be an opportunity for select authors from GAB Fest 2027 to participate in the Texas Book Festival in November 2027. This would be an invitation with no cost to the author. To be considered for this opportunity, you must agree that GAB Fest staff can share your information with Texas Book Festival staff.

Yes, I grant permission for GAB Fest to share my contact and application information with the Texas Book Festival.

No, I do not want my contact and application information shared.

Eligibility and Confirmation

To be eligible to join GAB Fest 2027 as an author, you must answer “Yes” to each of the following:

I live in Travis, Williamson, or Hays County.

Yes

I am self-published, published by an independent house, or traditionally published.

Yes

I am 18 years old or older.

Yes

I acknowledge that if my co-authors, illustrators, or other collaborators on my work wish to appear at GAB Fest, each individual must apply separately to be considered.

Yes

I acknowledge that my application is full and complete.

Files are not kept when a form is returned with errors. Please attach them again.