Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2019)
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 21 Literary festival hits high note in Sisters By Ceili Cornelius Correspondent Authors and book enthu- siasts came together to cel- ebrate writing, books and the importance of a good story at the inaugural Sisters Festival of Books last weekend. Authors of various genres came from around the nation to take part in the festival events. Friday kicked off with a special local-author recep- tion honoring Sisters-area authors (see story, page 1). Saturday featured presen- tations from various authors throughout the day at Sisters Middle School. Some of the authors in attendance included: David Oates, Kelli Estes, Joe Wilkins, David Joy, Megan Griswold, Molly Gloss and many others. Each author conducted a 40-minute session that included read- ing segments of their book, as well as a question-and- answer portion. The downstairs of Sisters Middle School became a bookshop, with tables filled with books by all the authors in attendance, available for purchase, and to have them signed by the author. A number of attendees had shared similar thoughts on the variety of presenta- tions by authors, from one author speaking on slavery in Oregon, to poets using their descriptive language to capti- vate audiences. Author Joe Wilkins, author of <Fall Back Down When I Die,= read a few chapters from his novel as well as from his poetry book, <When We Were Birds.= Wilkins9 novel takes place in the Bull Mountains in Montana, near the area where he grew up. Some of the characters and lifestyle in the book come from his experience growing up in a rural community. Wilkins read two chap- ters from the novel, chapters about two of the main char- acters, Wendell Newman, <a young ranch hand in Montana, (who) has recently lost his mother, leaving him an orphan, as his father met a violent end more than a decade earlier.= Wi l k i n s t r a n s p o r t e d the audience to the Bull Mountains, introducing them to another world within his novel. He also read from his poetry book, containing poems for his wife and chil- dren. He read a poem for his daughter about imagination and other worlds. He used descriptive words of a rural landscape in a love poem for his wife, making <the map of love.= Wilkins said he got into poetry after taking a poetry class in college while being an engineering major. The poetry influence shows in his prose, with flow- ing and descriptive sentences. Wilkins is in the process of writing another novel. Wilkins was happy to see an event such as the festival. <It is cool to see a rural community celebrating lan- guage and words,= he said. Wilkins ended his presen- tation with a poem from the title of his poetry book that he had made up for his son, <When We Were Birds.= David Joy, author of <The Line That Held U,= was one of the Saturday-afternoon presenters. Joy, from the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, is about as country as you get. <I wouldn9t leave my mountains, but I think this place is beautiful,= he said. Joy met event director Lane Jacobson at the book- store Jacobson managed in North Carolina, before mov- ing west to take ownership of Paulina Springs Books. Joy and Jacobson instantly became good friends, bond- ing over their mutual love for the same books and authors. When Joy found out Jacobson was moving out to Sisters, <I knew I had to figure out a way to get out there,= he said. So, when the book festival came to fruition, Jacobson recruited Joy to be one of the featured authors at the event. Joy began his presenta- tion with reading the begin- ning chapters of his novel, using lots of description of the area in which he grew up and where it takes place in the mountains of North Carolina. He introduces us to main character Darl Moody during a hunting trek where he acci- dently shoots a man digging ginseng, a golden crop that grows in the mountains. Joy grew up in a storytell- ing tradition and was taught to listen at family gatherings. <I didn9t read much grow- ing up, but I was obsessed with story,= he said. He grew up where people and place were inseparable, describing the importance of one9s land, basing his charac- ters and story off of some of what he grew up with, includ- ing having to be defensive over your place. Not only has Joy released two bestselling novels, he has essays published in The New York Times and on NPR. Joy, an avid fisherman, wanted to be able to create a program involving fishing. <I can write a half-ass story, but I am good at fish- ing,= he said. Joy participated in putting out a book based on fishing stories, <Gather at the River.= He called up a number of fel- low writers to produce their own fishing-related essays for the book. The royalties for the book go to Cast for Kids, which takes disabled kids and their caretakers fish- ing. Twenty-five authors, including Joy, contributed to the book with essays on 541-549-9388 SISTERS PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK Sisters Middle School turned into a book store during the Sisters Festival of Books last weekend. experiences with fishing and with water. Joy was able to get in some fishing time in Sisters, taking to the waters of the Metolius River with former Forest Service employee and bookseller Rod Bonacker for a guide. The rest of the authors offered similar presentations throughout Saturday9s event. Sunday9s events all took place at Paulina Springs Books, making a free fam- ily- and community-focused day. The events included story hour with local authors, history lessons, coloring and singing with children and community members. Lisa Loving and Stephanie Feldstein read from their “Your Local Welding Shop” CCB# 87640 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com We hope to have this as an annual event at the same time every year. The time of year is perfect. — Lane Jacobson WITHOUT YOUR PLUMBER, YOU’D HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. Call ll Sweeney C S P Plumbing l b i today for all your plumbing emergencies and needs. Serving the local community of Sisters and surrounding areas since 1995. 541-549-4349 Blue Moonstone & Diamond 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Licensed Bonded / Insured CCB#87587 FEELING THE CHILL… INSIDE? The look and feel of true hand-forged ironwork is different... ...than mass-produced, powder-coated or painted cast iron or fabricated steel. All our products are finished with a natural patina – age-old wax and oil finishes. books focused on journalism, activism, and creating a better world. Jacobson, event director says of the event9s future: <I hope to bring in other diverse authors, after we have the track record of this year9s event. We hope to have this as an annual event at the same time every year. The time of year is perfect.= IT MAY BE TIME FOR NEW WINDOWS! Come visit our showroom and talk to your local experts. Get Ge et our ou r be best s t p price r ice ri ce ee every ve ery d day a y on the highest-quality windows, doors, and architectural millwork CCB# 210187 541-549-0968 l lakeviewmillworks.com A division of Lakeview Millworks The lowest price every day on top-quality window coverings! BestVueBlinds.com | 541-588-6201
