Save the date! Planning is underway for the 2026 Southern New Mexico Book Festival.
Category: Book Festival
Las Cruces Public Schools and Las Cruces Writers at the 5th Annual Spring Literacy Extravaganza
Join Las Cruces Writers at the 5th Annual Spring Literacy Extravaganza hosted by Las Cruces Public Schools. I went through the LCPS system long ago and much of the literacy seems to have stuck!
This is a great opportunity for kids and their families. LCW will be giving away free books, too!
Per the announcement, get literate from 5-7PM on April 9th at the Field of Dreams.
Check out the venue from last year:
Book Release: Spencer MacCallum en Español!
Award-winning Las Cruces Writer Charmayne Samuelson has released a Spanish version of her biography of Spencer MacCallum, a critical figure in the development of the Mata Ortiz pottery school of Mexico.
Here are some upcoming events she is doing:
The book launch AND tour begins on Friday, April 17, 2026 from 6-8 at the prestigious Otero Arts Center Reading Program in Alamogordo, NM, where I will be the guest speaker and will share thoughts about everything from the Creative Process to Publishing to the significance of winning awards for not only me but those I write about. I will be signing the new book as well as many of my other books.
The second launch date is Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Tucson, AZ. I will join the renowned Tito Carillo’s Mata Fest, joining famous potters from Mata Ortiz, and signing all three Mata Ortiz books.
The third launch date will be Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Silver City, AZ, at the Silver City Museum for the Silver City Clay Festival. The museum features the stunning work of Mata Ortiz Potter Oralia Lopez and others, and I will be doing 3 slide show presentations and signing books for you!
From Holiday Booknanzas to the Vatican
Las Cruces Writer Charmayne Samuelson’s award-winning book, MATA ORTIZ POETRY OF THE CLAY Pottery. Poems. Artists: POESÍA DEL BARRO Cerámica. Poemas. Artistas, is on its way to the Vatican with her Mata Ortiz collaborators. Here is Charmayne on the amazing events:
The outstanding Master Mata Ortiz potters, Hector Gallegos and Laura Bugarini, are now at the Vatican in Rome for a special Chihuahua, Mexico in Rome Christmas celebration. The photos here show their outstanding work in creating magnificent life-sized statues of the nativity scene.
They also presented my book to the Ambassador of Mexico to the Holy See, Alberto Barranco Chavarría. I would have never dreamed that my work, my poetry/pottery book would speed around the world to the VATICAN. This is a truly blessed Christmas!
Holiday Booknanza 2025!
The poster says it all! Join Las Cruces Writers for the Holiday Booknanza and get some unique books for you, your friends, and your family. You won’t be disappointed.
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Award-Winning Tanya Dawson Wins Again!
Fresh from the amazing Southern New Mexico Book Festival, we have new award announcements for LCW’s own Tanya Dawson, including recognition from Pencraft, Pinnacle, and Literary Titan Book Awards:
Tanya’s also been a regular representative of Las Cruces Writers at the Tucson Book Festival, another amazing event for book lovers in the Southwest.…
Amp Up for the Southern New Mexico Book Festival with the Las Cruces Bulletin!
Check out new articles in the Las Cruces Bulletin that cover our two rock-star writers and event organizers, Eva Nevarez-St. John and Charmayne Samuelson. First the two discuss the event, its origins and even a little about literacy in the 21st century. The second article covers Charmayne’s amazing run of awards and success with her Mata Ortiz pottery collaborations and, drum roll please… five new awards from the New Mexico Book Awards, announced Oct. 1st.
For more information on the book festival, check out our events page.
Digest the Southern New Mexico Book Festival with the Las Cruces Digest (and food trucks)!
The Las Cruces Digest has a great write-up about the upcoming Southern New Mexico Book Festival and, again, our own Frank López is front-and-center. Check out the incredible array of workshops, author presentations, children’s activities, and, yes, the critical food trucks available at the upcoming festival this Saturday.
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Visit Las Cruces Live and Las Cruces Writers talk Southern New Mexico Book Festival
Come one, come all and watch LCW’s Frank Lopez chat on the Visit Las Cruces Live podcast about the Southern New Mexico Book Festival:
