by Ari Mathae
Willamette Writers, the Portland literary community, and book lovers near and far will meet again Saturday 10, 2018, for the largest celebration of books in the Pacific Northwest: The Portland Book Festival. The event starts at 9 A.M. at the Portland Art Museum and continues there and at other neighboring venues in the South Park Blocks until 6 P.M.
The annual literary festival began in 2005 as Wordstock and officially became the Portland Book Festival this year. The event includes a mixture of author readings, writing contests and workshops, exhibits, and a book fair. Portland Book Festival is truly a meeting of all parts of the literary community with larger bookstores and publishers, famous authors, independent and small publishers, self-published writers, and readers of all types involved.
Headlining Authors
Author headlining the 2018 Portland Book Festival are Tom Hanks (Uncommon Type) and Abbi Jacobson (I Might Regret This) and Lindy West (Shrill). But authors will be reading and signing throughout the festival. Many more author will be doing pop-ups throughout the event. Readers will find many of our own Willamette Writers at Portland Book Festival booths 39 and 40.
Willamette Writers Authors at the Portland Book Festival
Young Adult fantasy author LeeAnn McLennan, will be representing Willamette Writers at the festival. Her short story “Zombie Apocalypse Rescue Agency” will be appearing in the anthology, Strongly Worded Women when it releases in November 2018. LeeAnn says, “Portland is fortunate to have a rich and diverse community of authors who come together as a part of Willamette Writers organization. Being a member of Willamette Writers has given me the chance to work on my craft while interacting with other writers.” Events like the Portland Book Festival give opportunities for authors like McLennan to take part in the literary community that enriches our region.
Willamette Writers author of The Writer’s Crucible, Philip Kenney concurs, saying, “Willamette Writers is a gem in the midst of the demanding world of writing and publishing. It offers expert support for writers of all types in the craft, editing and marketing of our books.” Support that culminates in Portland Book Festival, “a remarkable event for the literary community across the Pacific Northwest.”
Our Signing Schedule
Last year’s Portland Book Festival Authors
Willamette Writers Member Authors will be signing at booths 39 and 40 all day, including:
9:00-10:30AM: L. Wade Powers, Philip Kenney, Linnie Thomas, Theresa Verboort, Julie Whipple, Teresa Klepinger
10:30AM-Noon: Greg Coodley, Cheryl Willis, Mary DeMocker, Mikko Azul, Riley Costello
Noon-1:30PM: Gretchen Van Lente, Jeff Stookey, Susan Ralphe, Marla Bowie, Leonide Martin
1:30-3:00PM: Robert Freedman, Antoinette Kennedy, Heather Ransom, C. LaVielle, Stevan Allred
3:00-4:30PM: Rosemary Lombard, Dami Roelse, Sharleen Nelson, LeeAnn McLennan, Kim Allred
4:30-6:00PM: Debby Dodds, Kerry Blaisdell, Sue Fagalde Lick, John Dover, Jack Estes, Benjamin Gorman
Opportunities for Writers
The Portland Book Festival offers valuable opportunities for writers to meet publishers and other book professionals as well as collaborate and connect with fellow writers. Events like this festival are how the Pacific Northwest has built such as strong and vibrant literary community. As Philip Kenney states, Willamette Writers’ “1700 members provide a dynamic community and emotional support for the difficult journey,” and events like the Portland Book Festival are only a boon to this community.
Ticket Information
Portland Book Festival venues include First Congregational United Church of Christ, The Old Church, Oregon Historical Society, Northwest Film Center, Portland’5 stages: the Brunish Theatre, the Winningstad Theatre, and the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Attendees can purchase advance tickets for $15 or tickets at the door for $20, and either ticket option includes a $5 voucher to purchase a book at the festival. Tickets for attendees aged 17 and younger is free with valid school ID.
Community Events
Attendees should also check out Portland LitCrawl on Friday November 9th from 6-9 P.M. the night before the festival. Literary events are held throughout downtown Portland each hour including Literary Bingo, Puppy Love: An Interactive Comics Reading, 100 Demon Dialogues with the Oregon Symphony Quartet, A Pair of Authors with Wine and Cheese, Kickstand Comedy & Author Improv, Powell’s Employee Reading, The Ladies’ Aid Society Death Brigade, and finally an “Awkward After Party” hosted by Tin House at Xport, The Porter Hotel’s rooftop bar and lounge. These LitCrawl events include readings, activities, talks, and more, all of which are free.
Other community partner events to the Portland Book Festival include Northwest Film Center Presents: Film to Page. Willamette Writers can also sign up for a workshop with FiLMLaBtv’s Randall Jahnson on Adapting Books for Film and Television.
See you there!
Check out the Literary Arts webpage for Portland Book Festival for more information on the event, scheduling information on readings and community events, and advance tickets: https://literary-arts.org/what-we-do/pdxbookfest/.