Festival schedule 2023
Friday, June 2 & Saturday, June 3
From the Lit Walk to Word Play, your festival weekend is booked.
Highlights by the day
LIT WALK | Fri evening
Three phases of readings by local and regional writers, hosted at different venues around the village of Eastsound. Free to the public
KIDS’ FEST | Sat morning
A family event starring award-winning young adult author Ibi Zoboi, hosted at Orcas Island Public Library. Free to the public
LIT FEST | Sat daytime
Panel discussions, readings, and interviews with acclaimed authors of fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and more, held at Orcas Center. Ticketed event: Day Pass or Festival Pass
BOOKSTORE | Sat daytime
Festival partner Darvill’s Bookstore will have our featured artists’ and guests artists’ work available for sale all day at Orcas Center.
WORD PLAY | Sat night
A magical evening of songs and stories that intertwines readings by our lauded featured artists with musical performances by a trio of gifted singer-songwriters. See literature come alive! Ticketed event: Festival Pass; limited additional seating for purchase (first come, first served)
Lit Walk details
PHASE ONE | 5–5:45 p.m.
249 Prune Alley, Eastsound, WA
Janée Baugher, Stacy D. Flood, Alle C. Hall, and Ari Rosenschein
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109 N Beach Rd., Eastsound, WA
Bruce Beasley, Douglas Cole, and Risa Denenberg
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123 N Beach Rd., Eastsound, WA
Rebekah Anderson, Victoria Grageda-Smith, and Kip Robinson Greenthal
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365 N Beach Rd., Eastsound, WA
Michael Hurwicz, Michael N. McGregor, Shannon Page, and Joal Stein
PHASE TWO | 6–6:45 p.m.
296 Main St., Eastsound, WA
Wandering Aengus presents: Gail Folkins, Jessica Gigot, Jill McCabe Johnson, and Paula MacKay
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68 N Beach Rd., Eastsound, WA
Catamaran presents: Barbara Bloom, Liz Kellebrew, and Gary Thompson
PHASE THREE | 7–7:45 p.m.
249 Prune Alley, Eastsound, WA
Irene Skyriver, Cara Stoddard, Matthew Sullivan, and John Whittier Treat
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296 Main St., Eastsound, WA
Homebound Publications presents: Quinn Bailey, Iris Graville, and Abigail Morgan Prout
68 N Beach Rd., Eastsound, WA
Catamaran presents: John Glowney, Teresa H. Janssen, Joanna Kadish, and Vincent Antonio Rendoni
Lit Fest programming
Visit our Featured Artists and Guest Artists pages to learn more about this luminous lineup at Orcas Center.
OPENING | 9–9:10 a.m.
Welcome and Invocation
Jule Treneer and Debra Babcock
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Orcas Island Lit Fest president Jule Treneer and board member Debra Babcock will open the main festival with a warm welcome and a preview of all the literary goodness to come.
PANEL | 9:45–10:55 a.m.
In Pods We Trust
Eula Scott Bynoe, Nicole J. Georges, Gilbert King, John Moe, and Jeannie Yandel
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Since their debut 20 years ago, podcasts have exploded in popularity. If you can think of a topic, you can pod about it. Join “Depresh Mode” host John Moe and four fellow audio artists as they share samples of their wide-ranging work—from true crime to topical interviews to memoir—and reflect on the craft of capturing voices and stories on tape.
BREAK | 12:05–12:45 p.m.
Enjoy delicious local options from Island Chef Services and Johanna’s Catering, available for purchase on Orcas Center’s outdoor patio.
BOOKSTORE | 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Festival partner Darvill’s Bookstore will have our featured artists’ and guests artists’ work available for sale all day. Immediately following each panel and interview, Darvill’s will host a book signing with the author(s) in the lobby.
INTERVIEW | 11:10–11:35 a.m.
A Conversation with Gilbert King
Hosted by Scott Hutchins
INTERVIEW | 9:10–9:35 a.m.
A Conversation with Ibi Zoboi
Hosted by Jill Johnson
INTERVIEW | 11:40 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
A Conversation with Haley Heynderickx
Hosted by Jule Treneer
PANEL | 12:45–1:55 p.m.
Debut Novelists See America
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Victoria Grageda-Smith, JoAnne Tompkins, Jule Treneer, and Kirstin Valdez Quade
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Futuristic or historical, realistic or fantastical—every novel is a vision of the world, and every author's vision speaks to the time and place they come from. Four newly minted novelists will delve into their experience in building literary landscapes, as well as what their work reveals about where and how we live today.
PANEL | 3:15–4:25 p.m.
Exploring the Ninth Art
Nicole J. Georges, Scott Hutchins, Nhatt Nichols, and Garth Stein
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Graphic novels and comics have come a long way since the funny pages. From groundbreaking journalism to breathtaking fiction, this art form is arguably our most innovative and compelling storytelling space. Four award-winning writers will discuss the artistic challenges and opportunities of what the French call the “ninth art.” The panel will be accompanied by images from their work.
INTERVIEW | 2:10–2:35 p.m.
A Conversation with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Hosted by Jule Treneer
INTERVIEW | 4:40–5:05 p.m.
A Conversation with Garth Stein
Hosted by Debra Babcock
INTERVIEW | 2:40–3:05 p.m.
A Conversation with Kirstin Valdez Quade
Hosted by Mia Lipman Irwin
BREAK | 5:10–7 p.m.
Stroll through the village of Eastsound to see what catches your eye, or make a reservation in advance at one of the island's celebrated restaurants.
WORD PLAY: An evening of songs and stories | 7 p.m.
Authors Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Gilbert King, John Moe, Garth Stein, Kirstin Valdez Quade, and Ibi Zoboi, plus singer-songwriters Haley Heynderickx, LéPonds, and Olivia Awbrey, will join forces for an unforgettable night of literature and music.