Missoula hosts Montana Festival of the Book

Published: August 27, 2008

The 2008 Montana Festival of the Book, held Oct. 23-25 in a variety of downtown Missoula venues, brings the region’s finest writers together to celebrate the richness of the state’s literary landscape.

As in years past, the Montana Festival of the Book will feature some of the most important voices of the West, including award-winning authors Thomas McGuane, James Lee Burke, William Kittredge, Deirdre McNamer, Andre Dubus III, Mary Clearman Blew, Rick Bass, Kim Barnes, Robert Wrigley, John Maclean, and many others.

Featured events include:

• A Thursday evening Define-a-Thon featuring celebrity teams of “definers,” including Missoula’s mayor, John Engen;

• A celebration of the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Last Best Place featuring the anthology’s editors and contributors;

• Several events focusing on the literature of the prairie, coinciding with the publication of the new literary and art anthology The Wide Open;

• The Favorite Poem Project, featuring Montanans from all walks of life reading and discussing their favorite poems;

• The traditional Friday night Author’s Reception, where participants enjoy drinks and snacks while mingling with some of the West’s best writers;

• A Friday nigh screening of "Dry Rain," a new film based on a short story by Pete Fromm;

• A gala Saturday reading, featuring Tom McGuane and Rick Bass;

• A citywide Poetry Slam, emceed by poet Luke Warm Water; and

• A panel on the work of Norman Maclean featuring John Maclean and the editors of the new Norman Maclean Reader.

The festival also includes panel discussions on fire, 20th century female Montana poets and crime fiction, writing and publishing workshops for children and adults and exhibits.

The Montana Festival of the Book is open to the public and almost all of the more than 50 events are free of charge. Venues in downtown Missoula include the Wilma Theatre, the Holiday Inn Parkside, the Missoula Art Museum and the Missoula Public Library.

For details, visit www.humanitiesmontana.org or call 406-243-6022.