Mark Your Calendars!

There are many great writing-related events for you to attend and enjoy in the coming weeks, including a local writers’ conference in March and the Get Lit! festival in April. Here's a brief overview:

The first annual Inland Northwest Christian Writers Conference will be held March 19. Keynote speaker is Jim Rubart, author of ROOMS and Book of Days. For details on workshops and other information, go to http://www.inwchristianwriters.webs.com/. This is a one-day conference and is a great value for only $50 per person. Lunch can be reserved for an additional $6. Check it out!

Also, tickets are now on sale for Eastern Washington University's 13th annual Get Lit! festival which takes place April 13-17. The festival will feature over 50 events including author presentations and readings, writing workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams and writing contests. Most events are free to the public, and individual tickets are now on sale for the headlining events. Each ticket is just $15 for the general public and free for students with a current high school or college ID. Student tickets will be available at college bookstores March 28 through April 8 or at the door as space allows. Individual tickets for the Ani DiFranco concert are $35 and student discounts will not apply. To reserve your seat for any of the headlining events, contact TicketsWest at 1-800-325-SEAT or online at Tickets West. Festival passes are still available for the headlining events. By purchasing a pass, you will save $20-$25 off individual ticket costs and service fees. Passes gain admission to see Tim O’Brien (with Brian Turner), Sam Kean, Matthew Dickman and on Friday, either Sena Jeter Naslund (with Nancy Rawles) or Ani DiFranco in concert. The regular festival pass is $45. The pass that includes the Ani DiFranco concert ticket is $60. Visit the Get Lit! website for a full list of participating authors and events.

Meanwhile, below are a few of the events happening in January.

At Aunties Bookstore, George Brinkman will sign copies of his book, Origins of Christianity; Joyce Caudel presents her first novel, The Hat Pin Murders: A Red Hat Mystery; Jesse Freels will sign copies of his young-adult novel, Murder at Foxbluff Lake; Paula Croomer will present her second novel, Dove Creek; and Donald Bradshaw will present his historical novel, Memoirs of a Counterspy.

Also, Dawn Nelson will sign copies of her books, A Cowgirl Remembers When and A Cowgirl Never Forgets at the Aslin-Finch Seed Conpany in Spokane.

And, if you have a desire to read your work to an audience, don’t forget Sandpoint’s popular, monthly, Five Minutes of Fame open mic at Foster’s Crossing.

You will find the times, locations, and details of these and other events on the Events page of this blog.