BookPeople Presents: Debbie Zapata - A Taxi for Everyone

Please welcome Debbie Zapata to celebrate A Taxi for Everyone: How Roy Velasquez Fought for Equality, available in Spanish as Taxi Para Todos: Cómo Roy Velásquez Luchó por la Igualdad!

This event is free and open to the public.

• Start time: 4:00 P.M.
• Run time: 45-60 minutes, followed by a signing line.
• Location: The second floor of BookPeople.

The author will be signing and personalizing copies of the book after the speaking portion of the event.

• To get a book signed, a copy of the event book or an item of equal value must be purchased from BookPeople.
• For high volume events, post-talk signing lines can become very long. For such events, we recommend arriving and checking in to the event early as that will get you into an earlier signing group.

Guidelines:

• Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed.
• If you have any accessibility concerns regarding seating, please contact [email protected]

• If you have any other questions, please visit our Eventbrite FAQ. If your question isn't covered in the FAQ, feel free to email us at [email protected].
• All event guidelines are subject to change.
• BookPeople reserves the right to cancel or postpone this event if necessary.
• There will not be a live stream or recording available.

About the book:

Roy Velásquez was the son of Mexican immigrants, growing up in Austin, Texas, at the height of segregation. He saw firsthand the barriers people of color faced—and refused to accept them. When taxis wouldn't serve his community, and streetcars stopped far from their neighborhoods, Roy borrowed five dollars, bought a permit and a tank of gas, and began driving people where they needed to go.

What started as a single taxi grew into a fleet. For more than seventy-five years, Roy's Taxi Service didn't just provide rides—it helped push back against segregation, poll taxes, and exclusion, shaping a more connected Austin. Roy's story is a powerful reminder that one person's determination can create lasting change.

Join us to hear more about Roy's life and legacy—and to hear from the family who carries his stories forward.

About the author:

Debbie Zapata, LCSW, is a native Austinite and award-winning children's author who writes stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Her books include Up and Adam (Kids Can Press), featuring a protagonist with Down syndrome and a finalist for the Brigid Erin Flynn Award for Best Picture Book from the Texas Institute of Letters, Abuela's Letter (Magination Press), an NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book, and Isabel's Birthday Surprise (Magination Press), praised by Kirkus as "a warm and uplifting reminder that love and creativity are what make celebrations truly special."

Her forthcoming picture book, A Taxi for Everyone: How Roy Velásquez Fought for Equality (little bee books, July 2026), tells the true story of Austin civil rights pioneer Roy Velásquez, who founded Roy's Taxi in 1930 and served Austin's communities for 75 years. When not writing, Debbie enjoys Austin's live music, food, and time outdoors. Visit debbiezapata.com.

By purchasing a book from BookPeople, you are not only supporting a local, independent business – you’re showing publishers that they should continue sending authors to BookPeople.

Thank you for supporting Debbie Zapata and your local independent bookstore!

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