The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference has announced its roster of illustrious journalists, memoirists, historians and editors coming to Grapevine July 23-25 to chew the fat and chew the barbecue. Established by George Getschow, writer-in-residence at the University of North Texas’ Mayborn School of Journalism, the conference is dedicated to the craft of narrative journalism.

This year’s big names include memoirist Mary Karr, author of Lit and The Liar’s Club — she’ll be delivering the opening keynote address Friday July 23.  There’s also Mark Bowden (Black Hawk Down), Vanity Fair editor and The Big Rich author Bryan Burrough, plus a return visit by Hampton Sides (Hellhound on His Trail). You may also have heard of San Antonio author John Philips Santos and Slate editor Jack Shafer. Register for it here.

The folks at the Mayborn magazine (left) have also been steadily improving the publication since it first appeared two years ago. This issue will feature pieces by some of the Mayborn’s big-name authors, including Sides, Burrough and Karr.