PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

This May, writers and readers across the Wood River Valley are invited to join The Community Library and Story Forward for three days of free events and connecting over words and storytelling. This seminar-style event, dubbed the “To Taste Life Twice Seminar,” is free and open to all.

Attendees can register to attend one or two writing workshops, while other events are open to all. 

“We’ve been working with Christian Winn, former Idaho Writer-In-Resident, on this event for a long time,” said Martha Williams, the library’s director of programs and education. “We hope that readers and writers in our community will enjoy hearing from speakers, and that anyone interested in creative writing will join us for a workshop or two to learn new techniques from these esteemed Idaho writers we’re bringing to the valley.”

Christian Winn, a Boise-based writer, educator, literary event producer, and founder/director of Story Forward, said he and Williams have gathered a remarkable, dynamic, diverse collective of  poets, fiction writers, memoirists, podcasters, journalists to share their talents.

“It's so awesome that we're able to offer these workshops, dialogues, and storytelling deep dives to the Ketchum, Wood River Valley and larger Idaho writing community as free and open. What an important, enriching opportunity. Can't wait to come up to the valley and get the stories rolling!"

• The seminar opens at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at The Community Library with "Reader's Corner," a talk by Bob Kustra, the host of Reader’s Corner on Boise State Public Radio. Kustra is also Boise State University President Emeritus & Professor of Public Service.

  Reader’s Corner is a weekly radio show and podcast featuring lively conversations with leading writers, including many winners of top literary prizes and best-selling authors. Kustra will discuss his interviews and their issues and ideas that matter today. Registration is recommended at https://thecommunitylibrary.libcal.com/event/9705859 to save a seat for this event.

• On Friday, May 19, participants can register to attend one of two afternoon writing workshops: "Capturing the Unsung Power of Point of View in Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry" with Christian Winn, or "Untangling the Difficult Narrative: Using Form, Language, and Self-Care to Access Our Wounds" with Rebecca Evans. Pre-registration is required as each workshop is limited to 15 participants. Both sessions run from 2 to 5 p.m. in conference rooms at the Library.
• On Saturday, May 20, at 10:30 a.m. the seminar's five workshop instructors—Idaho writers Christian Winn, Rebecca Evans, CMarie Fuhrman, Alan Heathcock, and Kim Cross—will participate in a “Writers’ Roundtable” panel discussion in the Library's Lecture Hall discussing their work and the craft of writing. Coffee and light snacks will be provided. All are welcome and are invited to bring their questions for these writers and editors of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and poetry. No registration required.
• Saturday afternoon's breakouts are from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and include: "Putting the I in Idaho: Finding Yourself in a Complex and Beautiful Landscape" with CMarie Fuhrman, "Revision: Curation for Optimized Artistry" with Alan Heathcock, and "Writing a Cinematic Scene" with Kim Cross. Full descriptions of each workshop and instructor biographies can be found online. Pre-registration is required as each session is limited to 15 participants.
• The seminar closes on Saturday, May 20, with an evening event from 5 to 7 p.m. upstairs at Whiskey Jacques on Main Street in Ketchum. Writing workshop instructors and seminar participants will share short selections from their writing over pizza and treats. A cash bar will be available. The entire community is invited to this open-mic-style storytelling event.

Visit https://comlib.org/programs-and-exhibits/to-taste-life-twice-seminar/ for more information. This event is supported by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council.