Mid-Columbia Literary Festival (LitFest) is sponsored by CBC and its partners. LitFest hosts an impressive list of authors covering a wide range of styles and approaches. They include author presentations, book signings, workshops, readings, and much more.
Past authors include:
- Sherman Alexie
- Augusten Burroughs
- Sandra Cisneros
- David Guterson
- Garth Stein
- Richard Yancey
- Jim Lynch
2014 Events
Stephanie Bodeen – Young Adult Author
Reading and Book Signing
Saturday, March 15
7:00 PM, Gjerde Center
S. A. Bodeen (or Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen) is an American children’s and young adult book author. She is best known for her young adult science fiction novels The Compound and The Gardener, and for her picture books about Elizabeti, a young Tanzanian girl. The first book in the series, Elizabeti’s Doll, won the 1999 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award from the New York Public Library, and was named a Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title.
“The world of the internet and self-publishing”
Presented by Ed Robertson and Jason Bond
Tuesday, May 13
7:00PM Richland Public Library
Ed Robertson is a writer of science fiction and fantasy under the somewhat lengthier name Edward W. Robertson. He is best known for his post-apocalyptic Breakers series, but his expansive lightsaber collection surely rates a close second.
Like most authors, he has lived places and had jobs. Currently, he lives in Los Angeles, and his job is writing books, which is excellent. When he is not writing, he is usually walking his dogs, which are as ill-mannered as they are small, or blathering about self-publishing, which he finds fascinating to a truly nerdy degree.
Bestselling author Jason Andrew Bond grew up in Oregon and currently lives in Washington state with his wife and son. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature degree from the University of Oregon and an MBA from the University of Colorado. When his first novel, Hammerhead, unexpectedly reached bestseller status, he dedicated twenty-five percent of his profits to disabled U.S. veterans. Jason's third novel, Hammerhead Resurrection, is currently in editing. Jason takes a hands-on approach to writing. When SCUBA research couldn't wait for summer, he found himself certifying in Puget Sound's frigid January waters. Outside of writing and his family, martial arts are an important part of his life. At eighteen years of age, he entered an Aikido dojo for the first time, and has since trained in Jeet Kune Do, Tae Kwon Do, Shudokan Karate, Goshin Jutsu, Judo, and Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu.
Kenn Nesbitt, Poet
Reading and book signing
Thursday, May 15
7:00PM Richland Public Library
Kenn Nesbitt was born in Berkeley, California. He grew up in Fresno and San Diego and attended National University in San Diego, where he majored in computer science.
Nesbitt’s poetry for children is “irrepressible, unpredictable, and raucously popular,” in the words of former Children’s Poet Laureate, J. Patrick Lewis. Nesbitt’s poems frequently deal with humorous, relatable situations that verge on the madcap. He is the author of numerous books of poetry for children, including The Armpit of Doom: Funny Poems for Kids (2013), The Ultimate Top Secret Guide to Taking Over the World (2011), The Tighty-Whitey Spider (2010), Revenge of the Lunch Ladies (2007), Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney (2006), When the Teacher Isn’t Looking: And Other Funny School Poems (2005), and The Aliens Have Landed at Our School! (2001), among others. In addition to writing books, Nesbitt has also written lyrics for the group Eric Herman and the Invisible Band. His lyrics are included on the CDs What a Ride (2007), Snail’s Pace (2007), Snow Day (2006), Monkey Business (2005), and The Kid in the Mirror (2003).
Nesbitt’s poems have appeared in hundreds of anthologies, magazines, and textbooks worldwide, and were included on the television show “Jack Hanna’s Wildlife Adventures.” Nesbitt is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. His website, Poetry4kids, is an online “Funny Poetry Playground” that features poems, lessons, games, and poetry-related activities. He currently lives in Spokane, Washington with his wife, children, and pets.
On June 11, 2013 he was named Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation.
About the Book
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
6:00PM Bookwalter Winery
Sponsored by Bookwalter Winery
LitFest ends just as it started, with an event meant to spread the love of all literature. There will be six to eight area book lovers who will talk about must-read books. Bookwalter will have spirits and hors d’oeuvres available for purchase. This event will be outside, weather permitting.
Thank you to our sponsors...
CBC Arts & Humanities Division, the Tri-City Herald, Battelle Foundation, the Richland Public Library, the Richland Public Library Foundation, the Friends of the Richland Public Library, Humanities Washington, Columbia Basin College, the Cavalcade of Authors, Adventures Underground, Barnes & Noble and a wonderful anonymous donor, for which we are eternally grateful.