PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Megan Claflin
Marketing & Communications Manager
mclaflin@centrum.org
(360) 385-3102 x130
Centrum presents the 41st Port Townsend Writers’ Conference, July 10-20
PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. — Centrum presents the 2014 Port Townsend Writers’ Conference, celebrating its
41st anniversary with 10 full days of readings, lectures, and workshop offerings, July 10-20.
“The Writers’ Conference has, since 1974, been a rigorous, nurturing, craft-focused experience for emerging and
established writers,” said Jordan Hartt, Centrum’s program manager for writing. “These are the poets, fiction
writers and essayists whose voices are necessary to our vital cultural conversations. Writers come from all over
the country – and from many locations around the world – to immerse themselves in this conference. They arrive
with their voices honed to a fever pitch. They get up early and stay up late, writing, revising and rethinking, and
the public performances are the community capstone.”
The free, public reading series offers participants and community members alike, the opportunity to experience
the work of these legendary writers in an intimate and personal environment. Readings are held in the evening at
7 p.m. at the historic Joseph F. Wheeler Theater at Fort Worden State Park. For a complete schedule visit
centrum.org, or call (360) 385-3102.
“Our reading series this year features nationally recognized and critically admired authors with a dynamic mix of
aesthetics and forms on display,” said Erin Belieu, Centrum’s Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Writers’
Conference. “For those who love literature, or just want to know more about it, the series is the perfect opportunity
to immerse yourself in the writing life.”
The 2014 faculty includes such accomplished authors as – Blues poet Kim Addonizio ( “Jimmy & Rita” and “What
is This Thing Called Love”); Copper Canyon Press poets Gary Copeland Lilley (“Alpha Zulu” and “The
Subsequent Blues”), Mark Bibbins (“They Don’t Kill You Because They’re Hungry They Kill You Because They’re
Full”), Dana Levin (“Wedding Day” and “Sky Burial,”), and Belieu (“Infanta” and “Black Box”); national bestselling
author Dan Chaon (“Await Your Reply’ and “Stay Awake”); Eastern Washington University professor Sam Ligon
(“Safe in Heaven Dead”); rising star in fiction Robert Lopez (“Part of the World” and “Kamby Bolongo Mean
River”); fiction writer and comedienne Jennine Capó Crucet (“How to Leave Hialeah”); and icons of the American
South Diane Roberts (“Dream State” and “The Myth of Aunt Jemima”) and Emily Rapp (“Poster Child: A Memoir”
and “The Still Point of the Turning World”).
2014 Free Readings Series:
Thursday, July 10, at 7:15 p.m. — Reading by Diane Roberts
Friday, July 11, at 7:00 p.m. — Readings and musical performance by Kim Addonizio, Gary Copeland Lilley, and
Sam Ligon
Saturday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. — Reading by Erin Belieu
Sunday, July 13, at 7:15 p.m. — Reading by Emily Rapp
Monday, July 14, at 7:00 p.m. — Reading by Dana Levin
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Megan Claflin
Marketing & Communications Manager
mclaflin@centrum.org
(360) 385-3102 x130
Tuesday, July 15, at 7:00 p.m. — Reading by Dan Chaon
Wednesday, July 16, at 7:00 p.m. — Participant Reading at the Waterman-Katz Building
Thursday, July 17, at 7:00 p.m. — Readings by Anne Germanacos, Mark Bibbins
Friday, July 18, at 7:00 p.m. — Readings by Thomas Aslin, Robert Lopez
Saturday, July 19, at 7:00 p.m. — Readings by Tom Healy, Jennine Capó Crucet
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