Helena hosts annual Festival of the Book
Published: September 9, 2009
The eighth annual Helena Festival of the Book brings writers, editors, readers and booksellers to the Queen City Sept. 24-26.
Highlights include a lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday and a panel discussion at noon Friday on the life and works of Montana-born author Thomas Savage; and a lecture by Great Falls-born, Greek-American poet George Economou at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Economou’s most recent books are Acts of Love, Ancient Greek Poetry from Aphrodite’s Garden and I’ve Gazed So Much, C. P. Cavafy Translations. During the 1960s he was the co-editor, with Robert Kelly, of the magazine Trobar and has been an active poet, translator and scholar ever since.
Other offerings include “Women in History,” with Professor Mary Murphy talking about her new book on women’s quilting; Dr. Sarah Carter of the University of Calgary, speaking on her new book on women homesteaders; and Jim Rains, professor of Native American studies at MSU Billings, lecturing on writer D’Arcy McNickle and The Surrounded (this year’s One Book Montana selection).
Workshops, slated for Saturday morning, include poetry by Chris Dombrowski, fiction writing with Samuel Ligon and memoir writing with Fred Haefele. A special workshop for teachers explores “Teaching Sherman Alexie in the Classroom.”
In addition, the festival features gala readings on Friday by Dombrowski, Economous and Wendy Parciak. Ligon joins Laurie Lamon and Steven Rinella for Saturday’s reading. The Holter Museum hosts both events.
For details, visit www.helenabookfest.com or email .
The writer’s workshops at the Helena Festival of the Book are absolutely tops--and well worth driving across the state to attend. Great teachers, useful material, and a rare opportunity to give your writing (or teaching) an inspirational boost. CHECK THEM OUT. It helps to register in advance because seats are often limited.
