First biennial
Raymond Carver and Tess Gallagher Creative Writing Festival: April 25, 26, and 27 2024 in Port Angeles, WA.
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Our keynote guests are Tess Gallagher, Billy Collins, TC Boyle, and Selected Shorts.
This festival is generously sponsored by the Peninsula College Foundation.
Celebrate creative writing in Port Angeles, a gritty coastal village where the mountains meet the sea.
Authors, Panelists, Workshop Teachers, and Speakers:
Billy Collins, TC Boyle, Tess Gallagher, Jonathan Evison, Harold Schweizer, CMarie Fuhrman, Alice Derry, Gary Copeland-Lilley, Holly Hughes, Lawrence Matsuda, Tim McNulty, Lisa C. Taylor, Anna Quinn, Charlotte Gould-Warren, Kate Reavey, Chuck Augello, Trinnie Dalton, Kama O’Connor, Asher Finch, Lauren Hanssen, Marianne Monson, Kristine Rae Anderson, Allison Green, Risa Denenberg, Lara Starcevich, Stanley A. Galloway, Holly Norton, Holly Marie Moore, Sam Robison, Teresa Janssen
FESTIVAL OVERVIEW:
The festival includes keynote readings, a film screening, a dance performance, conference style presentations, pie and poetry at Carver’s grave, writing workshops led by accomplished Northwest writers, and more. Catered lunches are included with festival passes on Thursday and Friday.
COST:
Two Free Events are open to the public: April 26th 4:00 at Field Arts & Events Hall The Suitcase Players (reserve free RSVP tickets online through Field Hall) / and / Thurs: April 25 12:30-1:30 Studium Lit Reading in PC’s Little Theater (no RSVP required).
All access festival passes are $400. This include sixteen events, two lunches, and a commemorative art piece. Tickets are non-refundable. Follow this link to register: This link will take you to EventBrite.
The all access pass includes all events and activities with the exception of our instructor led creative writing workshops.
Writing workshops are $120. Each workshop meets Thursday and Saturday for two hours each day. Workshops are non-refundable. View a list of instructors and workshop topics on the Workshop Authors 2024 page.
Tickets will be available for all keynote readings at Field Arts & Events Hall for $15 each (plus processing fees) if you’d like extra tickets for friends or family. We expect these tickets to be available at least 2 months prior to the event. Additional tickets to Selected Shorts are $30 (plus processing fees) and are available now.
Students can request a free ticket to one event. A limited number of free student tickets are available for individual panels and readings. E-mail Michael Mills @ mmills@pencol.edu
SCHOLARSHIPS:
Thanks to the generous gifts of authors and literature patrons, we offer the following Scholarships:
The Lawrence Matsuda Scholarship will provide one attendee an all access festival pass. Lawrence Matsuda Scholarship
The Karen Matsuda scholarship will provide one attendee an all access festival pass. Karen Matsuda Scholarship
The Sally Hedges-Blanquez scholarship will provide one attendee one festival pass and one writing workshop. Sally Hedges-Blanquez Scholarship
To apply, follow the directions in one of the attached documents above. Apply as soon as possible so we can notify Scholarship recipients with sufficient time to make travel arrangements.
PRESENTATIONS and PANELS
A variety of readings, craft talks, and academic presentations will be presented. For dates, times, presenter names, and titles see the full festival schedule.
VENUES:
All events will be held on the gorgeous Peninsula College campus in Port Angeles, Washington, with the exception of the keynote readings, which will be held at the brand new Field Arts & Events Hall.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Find the full event schedule here: Full Festival Schedule Plus Panels
Events will run from 9 AM to 9 PM Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ending with our keynote readings with Boyle, Collins, and Gallagher and a special performance by Selected Shorts.
The hit public radio series Selected Shorts takes the stage at Field Arts & Events Hall. Actors Dion Graham (The Wire), Zach Grenier (Devs), and Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds) perform extraordinary short stories and poetry by four masters of the form: T. C. Boyle, Raymond Carver, Billy Collins, and Tess Gallagher.
(Actors subject to change.)
Our greatest actors transport us through the magic of fiction, one short story at a time. Funny, moving, and captivating, Selected Shorts connects you to the world with a rich diversity of voices from literature, film, theater, and comedy.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Red Lion Hotel by City Pier. Waterfront rooms available! Use the following link to secure our discounted rates (Please note that multiple rates and room types are available: click “View More Rooms” for a full list of options.)
Red Lion Address: 2104 E 1st St, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Phone: (360) 452-9215. If you call, be sure to request the festival rate.
WHILE YOU ARE HERE:
Check out our stunning local attractions:
Black Ball Ferry to Victoria, BC.
And just down the street from our campus:
Port Angeles Fine Art Center and Quirky 5 Acre Sculpture Park
QUESTIONS?
Contact Michael Mills at: mmills@pencol.edu