The 13th annual Humanities Montana Festival of the Book celebrates the literature of the West with over 70 authors, October 4–6, in downtown Missoula. Two days and three nights of readings, panels, exhibits, demonstrations, signings, workshops, entertainments, receptions, and other special events are free and open to the public. Venues include the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park, the Wilma Theatre, the Missoula Public Library, and the Missoula Art Museum.
The Festival of the Book is one of the biggest cultural events in the Northwest. The 2012 festival features a gala reading with award-winning authors Ivan Doig, Pam Houston, and Patrick deWitt, and a joint presentation by Colin Meloy (of Decemberists fame) and Carson Ellis about their award-winning Wildwood Chronicles for young adults. This year, in addition to the festival’s literary events, Humanities Montana showcases music and literature, featuring an album release and performance by Stellarondo featuring author Rick Bass (see press release), and a new music song cycle by Wayne Horvitz based on James Welch’s novel Heartsong of Charging Elk.
