When members of the American Association of University Women’s Lewis County chapter contacted me about launching a Bookfest, I recalled the requests from past conferees for an activity on Friday evening after the master class.
I joined the AAUW and worked closely with a committee headed by Jo Martens that organized the first-ever Evening with Authors on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. It featured Centralia College instructor and author Matt Young as moderator asking questions of Garth Stein, the Saturday conference keynoter, and Olivia Hawker aka Libbie Grant, who taught our Friday master class.
The evening at Centralia College’s TransAlta Commons featured book signings by local authors, a basket raffle, a no-host wine bar, and hors d’oeuvres graciously donated by local businesses. After an intense day of learning, our conferees and volunteers enjoyed the opportunity to relax, laugh, and network with others.
Fee for the event last year was $20 ($15 for students). All proceeds from the Evening with Authors benefited Hope Alliance, a local nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
This year, the Evening with Authors takes place again in the TransAlta Commons featuring a question-and-answer hour with Jane Porter, the bestselling author of 44 romance and women’s fiction books that have sold 12 million copies, and Patrick Hutchison, whose debut memoir—Cabin: Off the Grid with a Clueless Craftsman—has garnered critical acclaim from the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Today Show, and others.
We look forward to seeing you there on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Julie McDonald Zander
President, Southwest Washington Writers Conference and AAUW member
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