The 13th annual Florence Festival of Books returns to Florence, Oregon, on Saturday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an expanded and updated festival for all the bibliophiles of the Oregon coast. Rub shoulders with authors, editors, publishers, and other book lovers at the Florence Events Center at the event, made possible by the nonprofit Florence Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, and facilitated by an all-volunteer staff. Enjoy workshops, over 30 exhibits, children’s activities, readings, book sales, author meetings, a keynote address by Dr. Scott Donaldson, a panel led by Ken Babbs of the Merry Pranksters and “Further” bus, and more. There will also be a no-host coffee and pastry bar open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission begins at $2 for basic entrance up to $10 for all-access passes. Students 18 and younger are admitted free.
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Earlier in the month, the High Desert Museum in Bend will launch its new Indigenous Speakers Series to celebrate Native cultures and knowledge. This series will feature an array of Native artists, storytellers, scholars, and others, presenting the community with opportunities to engage with Indigenous perspectives. On Sunday, October 6, “Stories are Good Medicine” will feature Angeline Boulley, New York Times bestselling author, discussing her 38-year journey to publication. On Friday, September 14, “Sensing Sasquatch Artist Mingle” will provide attendees with an informal meet-and-greet with the Native artists behind the Museum’s Sensing Sasquatch exhibition. Tickets for the series start at about $15 but vary depending on event date and specifications.
Week 1: September 1-7
Brian Belefant: ‘Sultan of Garbage’
- Presented by Annie Bloom’s Books
- 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 3
- Annie Bloom’s Books
- 7834 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland
- Free
Brian Belefant, award-winning author and screenplay writer, will read from his newest release, Sultan of Garbage. In his novel, a photographer named Alex Jamieson charters a yacht to head to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch after deciding to make a change in his life. He takes his uninterested girlfriend and shallow friends with him, eventually enduring their betrayal as he attempts to declutter and better his mindset, and contemplate the wastefulness of our society.
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Poetry Reading: Carlos Reyes & Jennifer Richter
Sponsor
- Presented by Annie Bloom’s Books
- 7 p.m. Thursday, September 5
- Annie Bloom’s Books
- 7834 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland
- Free
Carlos Reyes, three-time National Poetry Series finalist and Pushcart Prize nominee, is slated to read from his sixteenth collection of poems, The Empty Chairs of February. The new collection has been called “sweet, simple, and satisfying.” Reyes will share the evening with Jennifer Richter, Tenth Gate Prize winner, Oregon Book Award finalist, and Oregon State University MFA program teacher, reading from Dear Future. Her collection of poetry tackles themes of danger, awe, and mortality, offering the reader “a new way of seeing”.
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Daniel J. Levitin: ‘I Heard There Was a Secret Chord’
- Presented by Powell’s Books
- 7 p.m. Friday, September 6
- Powell’s City of Books
- 1005 W. Burnside St., Portland
- Free
Daniel J. Levitin, author, neuroscientist, and award-winning musician, will appear at Powell’s City of Books to read from I Heard There Was a Secret Chord. In his nonfiction work, Levitin explores music’s ability to heal and discusses why it is considered a potent therapy, citing Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, and pain studies. He argues that music may be an effective therapy and looks at music theory and history through interviews with musicians including Sting, Kent Nagano, and Mari Kodama.
Week 2: September 8-14
Chris La Tray in Conversation with Sierra Crane Murdoch
- Presented by Powell’s Books
- 7 p.m. Monday, September 9
- Powell’s City of Books
- 1005 W Burnside St., Portland
- Free
Author Chris La Tray will read from Becoming Little Shell, a personal and historical book about family, storytelling, and finding home. The book chronicles his journey into learning about his family and heritage and discovering the complex history of Indigenous communities and the impacts of Colonialism that have touched generations. Through conversations with Indigenous authors, activists, elders, and historians, La Tray learns to embrace his identity. He will be joined by Sierra Crane Murdoch, author of Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman’s Search for Justice in Indian Country.
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Sponsor
Eve Driver in Conversation with Erica Berry
- Presented by Broadway Books
- 7 p.m. Monday, September 9
- Broadway Books
- 1714 N.E. Broadway., Portland
- Free
Author Eve Driver will read from her newest book, What We Can’t Burn: Friendship and Friction in the Fight for Our Energy Future, a memoir about friendship written in two distinct voices. The book explores coming of age in Kenya and the United States, and the importance of tackling life with someone special. Driver will be joined by Erica Berry, writer, teacher, and author of Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell about Fear.
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Steve Duda: ‘River Songs: Moments of Wild Wonder in Fly Fishing’
- Presented by Roundabout Books
- 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 12
- Roundabout Books & Cafe
- 900 N.W. Mt. Washington Dr. Suite #110, Bend
- Free
Steve Duda, writer, educator, and Head of Fish Tales at Patagonia, will read from River Songs, a collection of stories about the outdoors. With a focus on fly fishing, Duda’s new book details moments that have influenced his perspective and inspired him to be vulnerable to the landscape. He explores themes of excitement, frustration, joy, and doubt while depicting the slow process of tying knots, chucking flies, and everything that goes into fishing on the river, hoping his words will illuminate awe in others.
Week 3: September 15-21
Judith Barrington: ‘Virginia’s Apple: Collected Memoirs’
- Presented by Broadway Books
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 18
- Broadway Books
- 1714 N.E. Broadway, Portland
- Free
Judith Barrington, winner of the Lambda Literary Award and finalist for the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for the Art of the Memoir, will be at Broadway Books for the book-release reading of Virginia’s Apple: Collected Memoirs. Through 14 collected memoirs, Barrington delves into an interconnected world of feminism, wilderness, surprises, love affairs, relocation, murder, aging, and other topics, exploring how light and loss can exist together and inform one’s life.
Sponsor
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- Presented by Rowman & Littlefield
- 7 p.m. Saturday, September 21
- Floyd’s Coffee House & Wine Bar
- 1996 S.E. Ladd Ave., Portland
- Free
Bill Donahue will appear at Floyd’s Coffee House & Wine Bar to read from his new collection, Unbound. The book is an offering of endurance sports stories spanning five continents and written over the last 20 years, featuring profiles of athletic luminaries, interviews, and personal accounts of biking, cross-country skiing, and more. Seating is limited and early arrival is suggested.
Week 4: September 22-30
Author Reading: Lydia Kiesling
- Presented by Broadway Books
- 6 p.m. Monday, September 23
- Broadway Books
- 1714 N.E. Broadway., Portland
- Free
Lydia Kiesling, Portland-based author of The Golden State, will read from her 2023 book, Mobility, in honor of its paperback release. Mobility, which explores class, power, and politics in 1981 through the eyes of a woman named Bunny Glenn, was longlisted for the 2024 Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and was named one of the best books of 2023 by Time, Vulture, Slate, and LitHub. Books will be available for purchase after the reading.
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Edward Burns: ‘A Kid from Marlboro Road’
Sponsor
- Presented by Powell’s Books
- 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 24
- Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
- 3415 S.W. Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton
- Free
Edward Burns, actor-filmmaker and author, will read from his debut novel, A Kid from Marlboro Road. This family-centered story is told from the perspective of an Irish-American 12-year-old boy dealing with death, coming of age, and understanding sadness. Based in the Bronx, Hell’s Kitchen, and Long Island, Burns’ book explores a familiarly bustling New York against the endearing lens of warmth, joy, mischief, and Americana.
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- Presented by Literary Arts
- 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 25
- Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
- 1037 S.W. Broadway Portland
- $25-$90
Connie Chung, the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News and second woman to ever anchor a network evening broadcast, will read from her memoir, Connie. Chung will detail her career and experiences as the first Asian woman to succeed in her male-driven field and divulge the intimate details of her life as a trailblazer. From discussing her husband, Maury Povich’s, support to retelling showdowns with powerful men, Chung gives the reader an inside look at her last four-and-a-half decades. Event tickets at select levels include a book with purchase.
