Rick Bass, Kathleen Dean Moore, Holly Hughes & Jim Bertolino in Bellingham, July 29

Join North Cascades Institute for a special literary engagement with Village Books and their popular “Chuckanut Radio Hour” program. On Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 pm, we’ll welcome renowned writers Rick Bass, Kathleen Dean Moore, Holly Hughes and Jim Bertolino to Bellingham’s Leopold’s Crystal Ballroom to celebrate the connections between wilderness and the written word. A fundraiser for the Institute, this evening gathering will also serve as the kick-off event for the Eleventh Annual Thunder Arm Writing Retreat , a 4-day literary mountain rendezvous to be held at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center July 30 – August 2 for eager newcomers and seasoned writers alike.
There is still time to sign up for this weekend’s Writing Retreat, and a sweet deal too: When you and a friend or family member sign up together at the same time, we’ll take 20% off your total registration fee. Details are here. Email nci@ncascades.org or call (360) 856-5700 ext right away to get in on this very special literary rendezvous!
“The Chuckanut Radio Hour,” a regional spin-off of Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” show, features an engaging, well-paced blend of comedy, music, performance and author readings. After each author has read some of their work, I’ll  lead a panel discussion with the writers and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions too. Tickets are available at Village Books (1200 11th Street in Fairhaven), at the door and at Brown Paper Tickets.
You can read a story I wrote about the “problems with nature writing” for the Cascadia Weekly by clicking here.