Bend,
Oregon. November 21, 2008.
With many attendees proclaiming it “the best
ever,” The Nature of Words 2008 literary festival, which ran November 5-9, presented
its most diverse roster of authors and poets to date. Central Oregon’s premier
literary event saw a packed house for two nights of author readings, 300
workshop participants, and a sold-out dinner and panel discussion. The Rising
Star Creative Writing Competition Awards drew winners from as far as Seattle,
Washington.
“In addition to the
impressive attendance totals, we estimate an increase of $5,000 in event
revenue over 2007,” said Ellen Waterston, Director of The Nature of Words. “The
Nature of Words was fortunate to finish in the black for the fourth year in a
row.” Final revenue totals will be available soon.
The Nature of Words
received an extra boost in 2008, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Oregon
Community Foundation to help fund two years of creative writing programs in
area schools, starting in 2009. That grant award complements $10,000 previously
awarded by the Collins Foundation for the same program.
Feedback about the 2008
literary festival included this note: “It has been wonderful to watch a
concept grow into becoming a major literary event.”
An audience member at the
Friday night reading wrote: “I was amazed at how moved I was by the
readings, especially Patricia Smith and Luis Urrea.”
And from guest author
Charles Bowden: “I’m here to tell you that this has been my most pleasant
experience in the reading-teaching-road-show-braying world.”
The 2008 guest author roster included Ursula K. Le Guin (special
recognition); Pam Houston and Luis Urrea (fiction); Charles Bowden and Craig
Childs (literary nonfiction); Ekiwah Adler-Belendez, Judith Barrington and
Patricia Smith (poetry). In addition, George Venn and Christopher Zinn were
workshop guest authors.
More information about the Rising Star competition, the literary
long weekend and the 2009 schedule will be posted when finalized at www.thenatureofwords.org, via email
at info@thenatureofwords.org or by
calling The Nature of Words office at 541.330.4381.
About Our Sponsors
The Nature of Words 2008 was made possible thanks to the
generous support of Central Oregon Community College, Old Mill District, Oregon
State University-Cascades Campus, Starview Foundation in support of Deschutes
Land Trust, Writing Ranch, and an anonymous donor. Additional support is being
provided by Bank of the Cascades, BMC Cardiology, Brooks Resources, Caldera,
Cascades East, Cascade Publications, Clear 101.7 FM, Craig and Linda Moore, Dan & Bonnie
Wieden in Honor of Caldera, Deschutes Brewery, Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners, Deschutes Public Library Foundation, Devore’s Good Food, DVA
Advertising & Public Relations, Emily Bonavia, Friends of Cascades Academy,
Greer, Mahr & Associates LLP, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation,
John Martin Landscapes, Margaret Heater, Mike and Sue Hollern Advised Fund of
the Oregon Community Foundation, Mike & Susan McKnight, Mount Bachelor
Village Resort, Nancy and Trent Tyler, Oregon Cultural Trust, Pepsi-Cola
Bottling Company of Bend, Ray Lansing and Angelina Montoya, Robberson Ford, Ron
and Molly Foerster, Sally Russell, Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, S. Parkman
Shaw Fund, Shelk Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Sun Forest Construction,
The Bulletin, The High Desert Museum, The Kinsman Foundation, The Roundhouse
Foundation, The Source Weekly, Umpqua Bank, University of Oregon, US Bank
Foundation and William Smith Properties.
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