C.V. Book Fest Opens the Page on a Quarter Century
diverse slate of authors part of Oct. 17-22 celebration of the written word
James Johonnott, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
The Chippewa Valley’s annual celebration of all things written returns for the 25th time Oct. 17-22. The Chippewa Valley Book Festival has been bringing authors to the area to speak about their books for a quarter century. With every year, the festival pushes the envelope and starts drawing more diverse books and authors of even more diverse backgrounds – and this year is no different.
Of particular note during the festival will be this year”s One Book, One Community subject, A Council of Dolls by author Mona Susan Power. One Book, One Community is a community-wide reading initiative to get the community to focus on one book about social justice and issues that impact our community. A Council of Dolls is a novel that explores the lingering effects of Indian boarding schools on three generations of a Dakhóta family. Power will present on the book on Thursday, Oct. 22, at The Pablo Center at 7pm.
(Her book will also be the subject of a presentation by Dr. Debra Barker, professor emeritus of English and American Indian Studies at UW-Eau Claire, from 6-7pm Oct. 2 and 10-11:30am Oct. 23 at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library Registration is required at ecpubliclibrary.info/onebook.)
Over a dozen authors will present on their books and work over the course of the festival. They include Gulchehra Hoja’s memoir, A Stone is Where Precious Where It Belongs, a look into the struggles of her people in Xinjiang (Chinese-occupied East Turkestan); Meg Kissinger’s personal lessons on how to write a memoir (hers is While You Were Out), conduct family research, and tell the truth while still getting invited to Thanksgiving dinner; novelist Lori M. Lee (Pahua and the Soul Stealer) and her overview of Hmong folklore and how she used it in her fantasy novel; sports, travel, history, and political writing; and a visit from Mercury Stardust, a trans woman who talks about her life growing up in rural Wisconsin, and her book Safe and Sound, a beginner friendly guide to home repair.
Get full details on the festival at cvbookfest.org or look for book fest events in Volume One’s calendar.
