Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Book festival arrives on heels of primaries

Although many Wyomingites are focusing on political issues this time of year, such as whether or not U.S. House candidate Mark Gordon is a "real Republican" (a question posed in Cynthia Lummis's TV ads), others are looking ahead to the second annual Equality State Book Festival Sept. 18-20 in Casper. Some of us are doing both at the same time! A group of very energetic planners in Casper brought Wyoming its first statewide book festival in October 2006.

This one is bigger and better than ever. featured writers include Alexandra Fuller, Jack Gantos, Laurie Kutchins, Gary Ferguson, C.J. Box, John Gierach, Laura Pritchett, and many more (35 in all).

Four, two-day writing workshops offering Casper College continuing education units will be offered Thursday and Friday, Sept. 18 and 19. They’ll be taught by faculty from the University of Wyoming’s Masters of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing: prizewinning poet H.L. Hix, fiction writer Alyson Hagy, nonfiction author Beth Loffreda, and Wyoming Poet Laureate, essayist, folklorist and accordion player David Romtvedt.

Anyone else with a book in print is welcome, too, to reserve a spot for a 15 minute reading and signing at the book fair on Saturday, Sept. 20. Works from anthologies will be accepted for readings as well. Contact kcoe@caspercollege.edu for information. These slots are limited, however, and will fill on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for the workshops, banquet and to reserve a table at the Fair on Saturday, click on the “register” tab on the bookfest web site.

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