ATX Book Fair hosts new ‘Hot Girls Read’ market

ATX Book Fair, founded by Angela Morrell, celebrates all things literary through its markets. The markets aim to promote bookish goods through a community book fair series. On Thursday, its “Hot Girls Read” market, held at Ani’s Day & Night, marked the first night market since its launch.

Hosted from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., the venue featured food and drinks, alongside vendor stands from local writers, books and handmade art. Women from across the Austin area flocked to the event with their book clubs and friends, excited at the opportunity to support local artists.

Before founding ATX Book Fair, Morrell started Austin Artisan Market in 2023. Morrell began vending in 2021, and at the time of this launch, felt encouraged by the supportive community she cultivated through her vending experience. Morrell launched ATX Book Fair in June, which now includes local authors, blind dates with a book, independent bookstores and vintage booksellers, among many other accessories curated for literature fans.

“I really wanted to start a book fair series,” Morrell said. “I had many authors … that have worked with me this past year, and I really wanted to create an event (centered) around them.”

Deanna Roy, a UT alumna and local author, vended at the latest market. With around 70 novels written throughout her career, including an expansive romantic comedy universe she coined the “Pickleverse,” this market marked Roy’s first time vending with ATX Book Fair. Although location would not limit Roy’s passion for writing, she credits Austin for much of her creativity and part of her support system.

“We really have it good here in Austin as writers, and we were one of the largest National Novel Writing Month groups back when that was still a thing,” Roy said. “I do think that helped foster my ability not to just be a writer, which I could have been anywhere, but to become a published author. Austin has a real good strategy in how we collect our people.”

Event attendee Audra Hobbs said the local book and art vendors drew her to the market.

“I’ve just been really into books pretty much my whole life,” Hobbs said. “Thought I’d come out and spend some money on these wonderful local artists.”

Julia Esperanza, a poet from San Marcos, also vended at “Hot Girls Read,” and similar to Roy, Esperanza shared how her environment influenced her writing, especially after moving from Florida to Central Texas as a Mexican American.

“I feel very connected to my culture here,” Esperanza said. “I value being able to hear the same language my family speaks at home in public. … That plays a big part in what I write about.”

Morrell said that events like these are what bring a community together and what truly connects people from all backgrounds.

“These third spaces are very important for us to have,” Morrell said. “We don’t have as many community gathering places naturally in our neighborhoods. … I think that having creatives connect with the community and these local businesses is just such a beautiful thing.”

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