Friday and Saturday. September 12 & 13, 2008

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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Hillside Theater

The eleventh annual Spring Green Literary Festival will be held September 12 & 13, 2008 at the Hillside School and Theater on Frank Lloyd Wright's 600-acre estate, Taliesin, just south of Spring Green, Wisconsin.

This year the festival features Charles Baxter and his newest novel, The Soul Thief; James DeVita, author of the 2007 novel The Silenced, and poet and memoirist Honor Moore, and her new memoir, The Bishop's Daughter.   

The festival begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening, September 12 at the Gard Theater on Jefferson Street in downtown Spring Green.  Authors talk about their books and read from their work.  The program runs two hours.  It is free and open to the public.

 On Saturday morning, September 13, the festival opens at 8:30 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast.  Lectures begin at 9:00a.m.  Each author speaks to his own writing and creative process.  This year's authors, using fiction and memoir, will focus on the issue of identity--be it appropriated, deemed irrelevant, or concealed.

At noon, a catered lunch is served in the magnificent dining room of Hillside School, followed by a book singing by the authors.  Books will be for sale at the time of registration, or readers may bring their own copies for autographing.  Registrants are encouraged to read the books in advance of the festival in order to fully engage with the authors.

Author Max Garland talking one-on-one 
at the 2003 Literary Festival

Beginning at 1:30 p.m. the registrants split into three small groups.  Each group will spend the afternoon having a face-to-face conversation with authors James DeVita and Honor Moore, spending half the time with each.

Anthropologist and writer Yi-Fu Tuan 
in discussion with a Literary Festival participant 

Or, up to twenty registrants can choose to attend the entire afternoon in a Writers Workshop led by Charles Baxter.  The workshop offers writers a chance to receive expert feedback on their writing from an established professional.  At 4:00 p.m. attendees will regather in the theater for closing festivities.  Adjournment is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

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COST:

The cost to attend is $55.  This covers the festival program plus a continental breakfast and a catered lunch in the Fellowship Dining Room on Saturday.  An additional fee of $30 is required for the Writers Workshop.  The fee for students is $25 for the day plus $25 for the Writers Workshop.  Details on workshop requirements are sent with the registration packet. 

Signing up early, before June 27, 2008, saves you $10.  Student fees stay the same, since they are already discounted.  Reserving your place now is strongly encouraged, due to the intimate nature of Hillside School.

Online registration adds a $2 PayPal access fee.

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Here are the ways to register:

• Print out a registration form and mail it in. 
  Requires Adobe Reader, which you can download here. 
  

• E-mail us at info@springgreenlitfest.org to request a brochure with registration form
  

• Request a brochure with a registration form by calling 608-588-3009
  

• Reserve your spot online. Online registration adds a $2 handling fee. 

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Featured books for 2008

The Soul Thief, by Charles Baxter

The Silenced, by James DeVita

The Bishop's Daughter, by Honor Moore

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How do I purchase the books?

All books may be purchased through Powells.com, or can be ordered from your local bookseller.  The links below will take you to Powells.com.

Charles Baxter's The Soul Thief 

James DeVita's The Silenced

Honor Moore's The Bishop's Daughter 

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Statements from Spring Green Literary Festival registrants about the Festival:

• Helpful, inspiring information

• The variety – each author was so, so different.  Taliesin – the place it’s held – so beautiful and peaceful.

• The writers were incredible – articulate, wise, witty and inspirational.

• The authors and their readings & discussions.

• The people!  My time to loll on the grass was much enjoyed.  I also loved the authors’ addresses.

• The feeling that one gets when associating w/ other people having shared passion.

• Meeting the authors in such a small, intimate setting.

• Discussion groups.

• Wonderful.  Range of presenters – wildly different personalities, etc.  

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For more information on the book clubs and discussions, see our News and Events page

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