This page features a history of the Northern Arizona Book Festival including how it began, the relationship with Literacy Volunteers, and other aspects about the Festival.
 

5th ANNUAL NORTHERN ARIZONA BOOK FESTIVAL
About The Festival

The Northern Arizona Book Festival was founded in 1998 by the Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County as a link between basic literacy efforts and artistic literary endeavors. A diverse group of acclaimed authors was brought to Flagstaff for a weekend of readings, workshops, panel discussions, and other literary events. Right from the beginning, the Book Festival became one of the highlights of Flagstaff’s cultural calendar.

Some of the writers who have appeared at the Northern Arizona Book Festival in past years are: Nobel Prize winners Toni Morison and Czeslaw Milosz; former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky; Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient; Russell Banks, author of The Sweet Hereafter; John Nichols, author of The Milagro Beanfield War; American Indian writers Simon Ortiz, Leslie Marmon Silko, Luci Tapahonso, and Ofelia Zepeda; Chicano writers Ana Castillo, Dagoberto Gilb, Alfredo Vea, and Denise Chávez; African American poets Quincy Troupe and Tim Seibles; and many others.

During the Northern Arizona Book Festival, Flagstaff buzzes with literary excitement. Events take place in Flagstaff’s historic downtown and at Northern Arizona University. A lover of books can find months worth of reading before and after the Festival. Authors have opportunities to reach new audiences. High school students travel from Indian Reservations to take part in the Festival and read their own poetry. Authors visit local schools. They read at Sun Sounds radio for the blind. There are poetry slams, poetry cafes, writing workshops. The weekend can transform people’s lives.

The year 2002 is a milestone, because the Northern Arizona Book Festival has formed an independent nonprofit organization. The Book Festival will continue to benefit the Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County – all admission fees will go directly toward core programs of the Literacy Volunteers. But by forming a separate organization, the Book Festival will free the Literacy Volunteers up to focus more effectively on literacy programs.

 

Main image graphic designed by RMRunningFoto.com & Splendid Graphics and Paul Berg

Site Design By
 Flagstaff Central.com, Inc.

Copyright©2002.  All Rights Reserved.
The content of this site is owned by the Northern Arizona Book Festival in conjunction with Flagstaff Central.