14
JULY 13�20, 2022
MIXED MEDIUM
THE ARTS AROUND
EASTERN OREGON
Celebrate writing at La Grande’s new Lit Week
By John Vollinger
Go! Magazine
LA GRANDE — A new event is coming
this month to celebrate poetry, literature
and creative writing.
La Grande Lit Week is July 17-23, and
prominent authors from the all across the
Northwest (and some from even farther)
will share readings, talks, seminars and
much more. Nick Neely, assistant profes-
sor of English/Writing at Eastern Oregon
University and the chief organizer of this
event, said he wanted to expand on EOU’s
Master of Fine Arts creative writing pro-
gram’s summer residency to involve the
community.
The week begins Sunday, July 17, with
a “Lit Trail” spanning a few diff erent ven-
ues to highlight some of the local East-
ern Oregon gems. The theme, “Writing
About Animals,” will feature readings from
COMMUNITY CLASSES
For those interested in honing their
own craft, nine one-hour community
classes will be off ered by Lit Week
writers on special topics such as
“Storytelling Science,” “Writing
Toward Joy” and “Demystifying
Historical Fiction.” Anyone can
register for these sessions for $20 via
the Lit Week website: www.eou.edu/
mfa/litweek. All classes will be held in
Badgley Hall on the EOU campus.
Eastern Oregon University/Contributed photo
Find a wide range of author readings
during La Grande Lit Week, July 17-23.
multiple MFA faculty members as well as
two visiting authors, Michael P. Branch
and Marina Richie, who will read from their
books about the “elusive” Jackalope and
Belted Kingfi sher.
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veterans and their dependents.
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Compensation
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& much more.
The Lit Trail begins with a reading at
Elgin’s Jewel Theatre at 2 p.m., and move
to La Grande with additional readings
and a panel at JaxDog Cafe and Books
(4:30 p.m., 1305 Adams Ave.), the Liberty
Theatre Cafe (5:15 p.m., 1012 Adams
Ave.,) and Side A Brewing (6 p.m., 1219
Washington Ave.).
For those interested in poetry, poet
Laura Da’, winner of a Washington State
Book Award, will read at Cook Memorial
Library at 7 p.m. Monday, July 18, and
three poets will share work near Morgan
Lake on Tuesday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
For this latter event, called “Poetry in
the Pines,” it is suggested that you bring
some camp chairs and a picnic.
There will be a change of pace at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 20, with HQ, 112 Depot
St., hosting Kathryn Miles and her true
crime book “Trailed: One Woman’s Quest
to Solve the Shenandoah Murders.” At-
tendees are welcome to stick around for
a musical performance by Hillfolk Noir to
round out the evening.
“We wanted to include music on a few
occasions — come for the reading, stay
for the tunes,” Neely said.
For those more interested in fi ction,
Side A Brewing will host Leyna Krow, who
will read from her mystery book “Fire
Season,” off ering a story for the Great
Spokane Fire of 1889. This is at 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 21.
On Friday, July 22, HQ will have
readings by MFA students at 6:30 p.m.,
followed at 7:30 p.m. by Jon Raymond
and his new climate fi ction novel “Denial,”
which offi cially releases July 26.
MFA students will also read at 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 23, at EOU’s Schwarz
Theatre.
The week will fi nish with a reading
at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Local, 1508
Adams Ave., by Emily Prado and her book
“Funeral for Flaca,” which won a Pacifi c
Northwest Book Award. A DJ set follows
at 8 p.m.
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