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2010 Equality State Book Festival
Holly Wendt & Laurie Lye, Co-Directors
The Equality State Book Festival celebrated books, writers, reading and the written word Sept. 24-25, 2010 at Casper College and a few other Casper locations. The celebration marked the 24th anniversary of the annual Casper College/ARTCORE literary conference, which has been called "The Equality State Book Festival" every other year since 2006; this being our third venture in that spirit.
For the two-day event, more than 16 authors and illustrators shared their talents, giving readings, leading craft talks and participating on panels. This year's group included poets, novelists, historians, journalists, illustrators and memoir writers. Among the participants were local favorites, Zak Pullen and Gene Gagliano, children's author and master of witty repartee, Jack Gantos, and Larry Watson, author of Montana, 1948, which is a text being utilized in English courses at Casper College. Schools were visited by authors, a ceremony honoring children and writing was emceed at the public library and the Tate Museum and Casper College Library were highlighted. All told, more than 2,850 people attended festival events.
Finally, we'd like to thank the following sponsors for their support: Wyoming Arts Council, Wyoming Humanities Council, Casper College Foundation, and the Casper Ramada Plaza Riverside.
As we consider a 2012 book festival, Casper College is proud to present its annual literary event with the 25th Annual Casper College & ARTCORE Literary Conference on Sept. 22-24, 2011. Featured guests include Pam Houston, Laurie Kutchins, Naomi Shihab Nye, Patrick Madden, and Kristen A. Elias Rowley. Join us for instructive workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and publishing, manuscript critiques, free public readings and talks on craft, Wyoming Arts Council Creative Writing Fellowship announcements, a poetry slam, and the good company of fellow readers and writers at various social events.
For more conference information and to register, please go to: http://www.caspercollege.edu/events/lit/ or contact conference director,Terry Rasmussen at trasmuss@caspercollege.edu or 307-268-2480.
From the 2010 Fest!
"You put on one of the best organized events of this nature I've been to, with such a fascinating variety of speakers, writers, scientists, etc. — great panels."
Jaimee Wriston-Colbert
"It was an absolutely fantastic Fest--extraordinarily well-organized, great conversations, exciting ideas and brilliant hospitality. Thanks so much for pulling together such a high-class event."
Jeff Lockwood
"I wanted to thank you for a wonderful festival. Thanks for all your hard work and organization."
Ravi Shankar
"I admire and appreciate your professional poise as well as your delightfully personal presence. We were well cared for, attended, fed — and you even ordered the right weather. Amazing."
Kim Barnes
"I hope you came through the conference unscathed. I really think it came off well. You crushed it out of the park. I thought the poetry slam was awesome."
Zak Pullen
"You are to be commended for your good work and for your quiet but effective powers of organization."
Larry Watson
We would like to thank our sponsors for the 2010 Equality State Book Festival:
Supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Many thanks to the Natrona County Public Library and the Tate Geological Museum.
