Publishers Brooke Warner will be in attendance at the Tahoe Literary Festival. Photo courtesy of the Tahoe Literary Festival

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) - The Tahoe Literary Festival returns to the shores of Lake Tahoe on Oct. 10 to 11, bringing together readers, writers and story lovers for two days of conversation, creativity and connection. Co-founded by Katherine Hill, publisher of Tahoe Guide and author Priya Hutner, the festival has quickly become a cornerstone cultural event in the Tahoe-Reno region.

This year's festival kicks off Friday, Oct. 10, at 3 p.m. with free community events, including author readings, free workshops and a Community Open Mic hosted by Scott Green of the Tahoe Poetry Collective. The open mic invites first-time readers and seasoned writers to share their poetry, prose or song.

Saturday, Oct. 11, participants can choose from 27 programs that include craft workshops, panel discussions, author readings and live performances offered throughout the day, starting at 9 a.m. Whether you love to read, want to sharpen your writing skills, are looking to be published, or are passionate about the literary arts, there is something for everyone of all ages.

The Tahoe Literary Festival hosts New York Times-bestselling authors Katy Hays (Saltwater) and Jill Shalvis (He Falls First) for a free community event. The two Tahoe-based authors will discuss fiction writing and their creative journey. Award-winning humorist Michael Branch, nature writer Eve Quesnel, and novelist Laura Newman share their insights into the creative process through the landscapes of the West. The University of Nevada Press features a panel of authors writing contemporary western fiction.

Publishers Brooke Warner (She Writes Press), Steve Wasserman (Heyday Books), JoAnne Banducci (University of Nevada Press), and author Lisa Michelle (successful self-published author) share insights into today’s publishing landscape. Wildbound PR offers strategies for indie authors looking to get their books into readers’ hands. 

Poet Laureates Karen Terrey (Nevada County), Jesse James Ziegler (Reno), Moira Magnessen (El Dorado), Melinda Palacio (Santa Barbara), Iris Jamal Dunkle (Sonoma Co. emerita), and Lara Gularte (El Dorado emerita) will discuss the role of the poet laureate and share readings from their work. 

This year's lineup of workshops expands beyond craft to explore the intersections of art, activism, and personal transformation. Participants can take a memoir workshop with publisher and author Brooke Warner, learn how to write a personal narrative, explore writing as an act of resistance to preserve public lands, learn how to craft a scene, or find out how AI might impact us. Poetry workshops include a Spoken Word Poetry and a Beat Poetry inspired by the Grateful Dead and a haiku workshop. A free generative poetry workshop for youth will be offered at the Tahoe City Library, led by Karen Terrey. These are only a handful of opportunities to explore, learn and experience.

From 3:30 to 5 p.m., festival goers can meet authors, purchase signed books and explore titles from local publishers. This event is free and open to everyone. The festival closes with a free community Singer-Songwriter Showcase hosted by Will Richardson of the Tahoe Institute of Natural Science.

Founded by Katherine Hill and Priya Hutner, the Tahoe Literary Festival celebrates the power of words to connect, inspire and transform. Our mission is to connect and engage regional writers, aspiring writers, poets, publishers and readers to share, listen and cultivate a vibrant literary arts community in the Tahoe and Truckee region.