The next WordFest showcases books for all ages: historical fiction for adults, fantasy for young adults, and an “almost true story” for children on Tuesday, July 8, 6:00-8:00 pm, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Avenue in Longview.
Kay Smith-Blum will discuss the writer’s journey that produced her debut novel, Tangles, a Cold War love story revealing the devastating costs of the birth of the nuclear age. When a harpooned whale provides proof that the Hanford Nuclear Reservation is endangering all life in the Columbia River Basin, young scientist Luke Hinson begins to investigate the danger, while also avenging his father’s death from cancer. Facing his own thyroid cancer diagnosis, Luke fights those intent on keeping the extent of the danger secret.
In the course of his research, he uncovers evidence that Mary Boone, a former neighbor, had embarked on the same treacherous course a decade earlier. Her disappearance may be tied to Hanford’s harmful practices and government-mandated secrecy.
Kay is a fan of mid-20th-century history. The continuing concern about leaking tanks of radioactive waste at the Hanford Nuclear site compelled her to write Tangles, named Book of the Year by the Literary Global Book Awards, and Best Debut Fiction by the American Writing Awards for 2024. She has lived in Seattle for four decades. For more info see https://www.kaysmith-blum.com
Dawn Shipman will be reading from her YA fantasy novel, Kingdom Lost, (Elk Lake Publishing, 2021), the first in her Lost Stones of Argonia trilogy. A young princess finds herself on the run after her kingdom is overthrown and her father taken captive by the enemy. During her journey, she discovers the gemstone she wears is much more than a family heirloom, and that her world is inhabited by intelligent, non-human beings. If she wants to regain her throne, she must learn to trust those by her side—both human and not.
Dawn knew she wanted to be a writer since before Mrs. Juell’s 10th grade Creative Writing class. Since then, she’s published stories, poetry, plays, puzzles, quizzes, and magazine articles. She believes “freelance writing is the ideal occupation for those who are nosy by nature and who like asking personal questions.”
Jane Kurtz will read from her newest book, Oh, Give Me a Home, an “almost true story” in verse for young readers about when she returned as a child from Ethiopia to the U.S. and spent a year in Boise, Idaho. It’s a story of family, of culture shock, of being a third culture kid, and trying to figure out answers to the question, “Where are you from?” The book was named a Junior Library Guild selection and received a starred review from Kirkus, which calls it “A buoyant, beautiful explication of cultural adjustment as seen through a child’s eyes.”
Jane was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent most of her childhood in Ethiopia where her parents worked for the Presbyterian Church. She is the author of more than 40 children’s books and was part of the faculty of the Vermont College MFA program in Children’s and YA Literature. She volunteers her time for several literacy projects, and has two Ethiopian-American grandchildren.
An open mic will follow the presentations where people can read for 10 minutes.
The monthly gathering of readers and writers meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, in the fellowship hall of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The events are free and open to the public.
