Eastern Washington University’s annual Get Lit! Festival – which has gone virtual this year – runs through Sunday, April 18. The festival schedule is viewable through the EWU Get Lit! Festival webpage.
Some of the remarkable individuals featured in Get Lit!’s 2021 Festival include Jess Walter, Esi Edugyan, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Johanna Stoberock, Ellen Bass, Jake Skeets, Elissa Washuta, Marlon Peterson, Sonora Jha, and many more.
The week-long celebration of all things literature offers author readings, craft classes, panel discussions, and even a class on pie baking! This year, two to three live events will be streamed each day on YouTube, with the option for Q&A time through YouTube’s chat feature or pre-mailed questions (email questions in advance to getlit@ewu.edu).
Featured events of the 2021 Get Lit! Festival include:
Creativity in Climate Crisis — Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
Join critically acclaimed authors Robin Wall Kimmerer, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Johanna Stoberock in this discussion of utilizing creative work to bring awareness to the increasingly pressing issue of climate change.
Timely Historical Fiction — Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m.
Experience readings and discussions with Spokane’s own Jess Walter and best-selling author Esi Edugyan from their historical fiction novels that delve into themes of class, race, friendship, and betrayal.
We the Indigenous — Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m.
Indigenous authors Tiffany Midge, Elissa Washuta, Jake Skeets, and the founder of We the Indigenous himself, D.A. Navoti read from their recent award-winning works, showcasing Indigenous literary talent and voices. A short discussion will follow.
Unmaking the Patriarchy of the Mind — Monday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m.
During this reading and discussion, five award-winning women writers will share poetry and prose and discuss writing against patriarchal expectations—both overtly and implicitly—within their work and in their writing lives.
KINK — Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m.
Join R.O. Kwon, co-editor of “KINK,” in a reading and conversation about the groundbreaking short story anthology that opens the door to the often-undiscussed topics of love, desire, and BDSM.
Nearly all festival events will be free to stream live on Get Lit!’s YouTube channel and will remain available for viewing all year. Some exceptions are Pie School, which will require the purchase of a book via Auntie’s Bookstore, and the four interactive craft classes, which will be an incredible deal of just $30 each. These craft classes will be held Friday and Saturday morning via Zoom and capped at 25 attendees. Registration links and additional information will be made available on the festival website in the coming weeks.
For festival attendees looking for opportunities to interact and converse with fellow literary enthusiasts throughout the week, Conversations Over Coffee, an unconference-style event sponsored by Must Read Fiction, will take place Monday through Thursday at 9 a.m.
Finally, don’t miss one of the closing events, Must Read Fiction Presents: Conversations with Festival Authors on Sunday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and interact with festival authors in several breakout sessions on Zoom.
Get Lit! Programs cannot wait to welcome its very first virtual festival attendees during the week of April 12-18. Get Lit! recommends that participants register for events through Eventbrite (links coming soon). Visit the EWU Get Lit! Festival webpage for more details.
