279 Artisans Trail

Ben Wheeler Book Fair 2014

Ben Wheeler, Book Fair, Fall, Old Downtown, Photography, Upper East Texas

The annual Ben Wheeler Book Fair features about 25 East Texas authors. Works span genres including children’s books, Christian fiction, horror, humor, mystery, poetry, romance, and young adult fiction. Nonfiction authors include biography, children’s advocacy, memoir, music and culture, photography, and self help. Authors are screened to ensure quality and visitors have opportunity for one-on-one time with the authors. The third book fair was held on November 29th, 2014, in the restored Old Elwood Schoolhouse in downtown Ben Wheeler, Tx., sharing space with the Ben Wheeler Children’s Library.

I have been part of this book fair since it started in 2012. This year I brought my photography books “On the Edge of the Piney Woods”, “My Northeast Texas”, “The Dancing Trees”, and “A Legacy of Faith,”  along with notecards and photography works. I had a great time meeting and visiting with fellow authors and visitors.

Follow the event on facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Ben-Wheeler-Book-Fair.

Photographs by Ine Burke, 2014

Ben Wheeler Feral Hog Festival 2014

Ben Wheeler, Fall, Festivals, Old Downtown, Photography, Travel, Upper East Texas

Photos from the annual Ben Wheeler Feral Hog Festival 2014, October 25th, featuring the Hog Parade, Willie Peden Syrup Mill, and Moore’s Store at Ben Wheeler, Texas.

Photographs ©2014 Ine Burke

Ben Wheeler Book Fair Graphic Work

Ben Wheeler, Book Fair, My Graphic Work, MySpread, Upper East Texas

I took a design graphic work challenge for the 2nd Annual Ben Wheeler Book Fair, which I will be part of, and the organizer put it to use in the form of flyer and printed advertisement in County Line Magazine.

BW Book Fair Flyer2R-Small

BW Flyer in CLM2013

Flying Fish Gallery

Ben Wheeler, Old Downtown, Photography, Travel

Flying Fish Gallery, an art gallery nestled in the heart of revitalized old downtown Ben Wheeler, Texas, is operated by husband and wife, Randy and Sherri Martin. The art pieces shown and sold here, are created by artists who lives around the area, including Randy and Sherri’s. Sherri repurposes objects made of metal, wood, or sometimes paper, she found in a flea market, garage sale, or estate sale. She would work with an object by observing it first until she sees a new object comes out of it. Then she would start dismantling, combining, and adding elements to it and go toward where her initial instinct told her to go. For Sherri, animal is the object she loves to make. Randy’s artwork are also shaped by used metal comes from old farm implements or other industrial material. His artworks are displayed outdoor, some mobile, as garden ornaments. Take a peek of Sherri and Randy’s work and gallery through my photos below. The whole art gallery is an art by itself. It’s welcoming, warm, bright, but tranquil at the same time. Sherri Martin was featured in the County Line Magazine in June 2012. Click here to read the coverage. The Flying Fish Gallery is located at downtown Ben Wheeler, along FM279 Artisan Trail, connecting Ben Wheeler and Edom, Texas, off Hwy 64.

I have the honor to be one of the artists whose work is made available for sale through Flying Fish Gallery. My second photography book, My Northeast Texas, is presented beautifully among other local artists’ work in the following photo. The County Line Magazine reviewed the book in March 2013 issue, Artist Publishes Book of Her Northeast Texas Views (Click here to read the review online).

My book displayed with other art pieces and painting in Flying Fish Gallery
The painting is by Anup Bhandari

For more information about my book, go to MY NORTHEAST TEXAS.

Ben Wheeler Book Fair 2012

Ben Wheeler, Book Fair, Fall, Festivals, Photography

I will be participating in this event, this Saturday, December 8th, 2012, 10am – 4pm.

Both of my books, On the Edge of the Piney Woods and My Northeast Texas will be available for preview and sale, as well as some photo prints and note cards.

Ben Wheeler Book Fair 2012

From County Line Magazine, December 2012 issue

Twenty-five authors from all over the Upper East Side of Texas and a couple of “outsiders” will share their books and writing experiences at the Ben Wheeler Book Fair on December 8 as part of the Second Saturday 279 Art Jam.

Genres represented at the book fair include general fiction, historical fiction, Christian mystery and fiction, mystery, suspense, western, romantic mystery, humor, inspirational/self help, poetry, short fiction, music criticism, essays, romance, detective, children’s fiction and poetry, photography and more.

Authors will sell, sign, and talk about their books and the writing and publishing processes. It’s free to attend, and it’s from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the historic and beautifully restored Elwood School House, 5475 FM 858 in downtown Ben Wheeler.

Book fair sponsors are the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation, County Line Magazine, and Half Price Books.

Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, was created by Brooks and Rese Gremmels to serve as the vehicle for reconstructing not only the physical aspects of Ben Wheeler and returning a sense of community to the town by providing it with various outlets through music, art, history, education, entrepreneurship, basic civil service, and philanthropy. Its Elwood School House also hosts the Ben Wheeler Children’s Library, which provides free books for children.

County Line Magazine celebrates, presents, informs, and entertains the unique territory of the “Upper East Side of Texas,” focusing on the best people, places, culture, food, art, music, and entertainment, both in print and online, that enhances the Northeast Texas experience. Special editions provide in-depth coverage of the annual Best of the Upper East Side of Texas, Home & Garden, The Arts, Summer Fun Guide, and Farm to Market.

Half Price Books is the nation’s largest family-owned new and used bookstore chain, with 115 retail locations in 16 states. The chain launched its Million Book Donation Project in 2012 in honor of its 40th anniversary and has donated books to schools and non-profit organizations throughout the country. In addition, Half Price Books hosts its Half Pint Library book drive each year to collect and distribute children’s books to those in need.

The book fair is scheduled in conjunction with the Second Saturday 279 Art Jam that spreads along Hwy 279 from Ben Wheeler to Edom and beyond. All of the galleries and other shops and restaurants will be open, and there will be live music in both towns.

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Also publicized in KERA Art and Seek’s website: Ben Wheeler Book Fair (CLICK HERE)

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The list of some of the authors by town:

Headliners:
Joe Lansdale, Nacogdoches: horror, crime, mystery, western, science fiction
Joe Nick Patoski, Wimberley: The Dallas Cowboys: The Outrageous History of the Biggest, Loudest, Most Hated, Best Loved Football Team in America; and other Texas-related books

Addison: Pam Boyd; self-help
Ben Wheeler: Tom Geddie; poetry, short fiction, music criticism, essays
Ben Wheeler: Herb Marlow; children’s, western, clean adult
Ben Wheeler: Robert L. Stevens; historical fiction, young adult
Daingerfield: George A. Allen, children’s
Edgewood: Ine Burke; photography, nature, Northeast Texas, history
Frankston: Catherine Sellers; romance, women/s fiction
Garden Ridge: Bob Doerr; mystery, thriller
Greenville: Avon Acker; fiction and historical fiction
Hawkins: Jerry Clark; mystery, suspense, western, humor, poetry, fantasy, science fiction
Jacksonville: Patricia J. La Vigne; children, young adult
Linden: Holly Joy Bowden; adult romance, poetry
Mount Pleasant: Ann Everett; romantic mystery/comedy
Mount Pleasant: Galand Nuchols; children and young adult
Nacogdoches: Kasey Lansdale; horror, mystery, science fiction; also musician
Pittsburg: Elizabeth Baker; Christian fiction and non-fiction
Texarkana: William Carl, mystery, romance, detective
Tyler: Charles H. Hayes; history
Tyler: Melinda Richarz Lyons; children’s fiction and adult non-fiction
Tyler: Marvin S. Mayer; children’s picture and chapter books
Wills Point: Randal J. Brewer; literary, contemporary fiction
Winnsboro: James R. Callan; mystery, suspense, Christian mystery, humor, and inspirational/self help