It’s A Festival

A group of women friends recently chatted on the topic of play—you know, those carefree, lose-track-of-time, freed-from-rules-and-schedules activities many of us enjoyed as kids. We all admitted that even though we know play heals and restores, it’s harder to do at this stage of life. It turns out, though, we do know how to have fun—singing, dancing, acting, hiking and bicycling to name a few. One of my kinds of fun is to listen to writers read from and talk about their work.

It’s also fun to team up with other readers and writers to organize a literary festival. That’s what I’ve been doing since last summer as a board member of the Orcas Island Literary Festival (OILF). Now in its second year, OILF’s mission is “to bring together renowned authors and avid readers, visitors and locals, for three days of panels, readings and events that highlight the vibrant literary culture of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”

This year’s festival will convene again at Orcas Center in Eastsound, WA, April 5th-7^th with another superb line-up of novelists, essayists, memoirists, graphic novelists, poets, and screenwriters. From Pulitzer Prize winners to gifted new voices, the festival’s featured artists come from across the U.S. and Canada. You can see the entire list of the eight authors headlining the festival here. I think you’ll want to meet all of them and read their work.

The Festival also includes activities for youth, a Book Fair, and book sales by Darvill’s Bookstore. If, like me, you think it’s fun to hear authors read their prose and poetry, you’ll especially enjoy Friday night’s free lit walk with readings at Eastsound businesses such as The Barnacle, Darvill’s, Doe Bay Wine Company, Outlook Inn, Enzo’s, and The Kitchen.

Now’s the time to buy tickets and make plans for some fun at the Orcas Island Lit Fest, April 5^th – 7^th.  See you at the Festival!