BY KAREN BOSSICK
The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is kicking off a variety of ways for students and the community to hear authors free of charge with an appearance by six-time James Beard Award-winner Ruth Reichl, who has penned such books as “The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise” and “My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life” on July 16.
Her talk and one by Sonia Purnell, author of “Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill” and “A Woman of No Importance,” on July 22 are being offered as part of the free Community Speaker Series held in partnership with The Community Library. Registration for those opens at 9 a.m. May 5 on the Community Library website at https://comlib.org/.
Full conference passes and Next Generation Passes for those 35 and under sold out within minutes of going on sale earlier this year.
But, while the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is a nonprofit that relies on pass sales and donations to operate, it strives to expand access to students and the broader community through the Speaker Series and other ways to view author talks.
“We are developing programs for all types of people who want to enjoy SVWC,” said Marketing & Communications Manager Kate Elgee Haase. “For the hundreds of people who try to buy passes but they sell out, for the people who can’t afford to buy a full pass, but also for students and kids, young adults, Spanish-speakers, and those with health concerns or hearing impairment.”
Ways You Can Take Part:
FREE Community Speaker Series
SVWC is again partnering with The Community Library to host free lectures for the local community, with two speakers bookending this year’s Sun Valley Writers’ Conference—Ruth Reichl on July 16 and Sonia Purnell on July 22. Both talks will be held at 5:30pm at The Community Library. Registration opens May 5 at 9am at The Community Library website. Visit https://svwc.com/community-speaker-series for more details.
FREE Pavilion Lawn Talks
Bring a picnic, blanket, and low-back chair and come to the Sun Valley Pavilion lawn July 19-21—select presentations will be broadcast live to the large jumbotron. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and no ticketing or registration is required. You can browse the Bookstore Tent to purchase books by each author and attend book signings following each talk. For a complete schedule and more details, visit https://svwc.com/free-lawn-talks (speakers will be announced alongside the 2025 schedule & program in May).
FREE Livestreaming
Can’t join in person? No problem—you can livestream select talks from SVWC from anywhere in the world. You don’t have to leave your home to enjoy presentations by some of the country’s—and the world’s—best writers and thinkers. Free virtual talks will take place July 19-21. Registration will not be required this year. For more details and information, visit https://svwc.com/livestream (schedule will be announced in June/July pending author permissions). Check back regularly as new talks are added.
FREE Pavilion Talks for Local Students, Teachers, and Library Staff
SVWC invites local Wood River Valley students, teachers and library staff to attend Pavilion Talks for free. As long as there is space available and the talk isn’t at capacity, you can check in at the Bookstore Tent’s Info Desk 30 minutes prior to each talk to get your pass. Please bring proof of identification in the form of a school or library ID.
FREE Digital Content
Did you know that SVWC has a free digital media library on their website? Everything from Beyond the Page podcasts and SVWC audio recordings to videos of some of the most popular Pavilion Talks throughout the years. You can experience all the best of SVWC at your leisure—anytime, anywhere. Explore the entire digital media library at https://svwc.com/media.
Live Watch Party at The Argyros
For the second year in a row, SVWC will be hosting a Live Watch Party at The Argyros theater in downtown Ketchum! This July 19-21, they will broadcast select talks from the 2025 Conference throughout the day. Passes are only $25 per day, available for purchase at the SVWC website on June 23. They will have a bookstore on-site as well as SVWC gift items, special guest appearances, drinks, music, and more. For details and information, including available talks and how to purchase passes, visit https://svwc.com/watchparty (speakers and schedule will be announced in June/July).
Special Series Pavilion Pass (NEW!)
This year, in place of single event tickets, SVWC has a new offering—the Special Series Pavilion Pass! You can purchase passes to the Sun Valley Pavilion for a series of three afternoon talks each day on July 20 & 21 ($150 per day) and for one very special talk on July 19 ($50). Passes will be on sale June 2 at the SVWC website. For more information and to see the lineup, visit https://svwc.com/pavilion-pass (speakers will be announced alongside the 2025 schedule and program in May).
“We love that there is so much enthusiasm to join our event and we never want to turn people away,” said Haase. “We hope these programs will help make our content even more accessible.”
The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference was founded in 1995. Over the years, it has featured mind-expanding talks and performances by such presenters as Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr, Colson Whitehead, Frank McCourt, Congressman John Lewis, Margaret Atwood and U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins.