The Astoria Writers Guild presents “Urgency of Words,” a two day event with readings and writing workshops, Oct 2-4, at the Barbey Center in Astoria, Oregon. This festival features internationally award-winning poet and essayist Tess Gallagher, and Raymond Carver Podcast host Michael Calvin Mills, along with a stellar line-up of regional presenters. Registration is open now.
Clatskanie Library District is very pleased to welcome Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston on July 17th, 2026. Waterston will offer two poetry workshops, one at 11am in the historic Thomas J. Flippin House and one at 2pm in the beautifully restored Clatskanie Cultural Center. Both workshops will be limited to 15 participants and registration is required. That evening, beginning at 5pm, award-winning local youth poet Estella Huezo will give a brief reading, followed by a reading and brief discussion by Ellen Waterston. Light refreshments will be served.
To prepare for her visit, Clatskanie Library District will host two book clubs in June and July. The first will focus on a recent nonfiction collection, Where the Crooked River Rises, and will take place in the Library on Wednesday, June 24th at 6pm. The second will feature her most recent poetry book, As Far As I Can Anthem, and will also be held in the Library on Saturday, July 11th at 2pm. There are seven complimentary copies of each title available to participants. Follow the links above to register, and learn more about all these events by visiting ClatskanieLibrary.org.
Join the C.C. Stern Type Foundry for the release of a new letterpress broadside, “First World Concerns” the seventh in their Pacific Northwest Poets Laureate Broadside series. The event is from 3-5pm and will include a poetry reading by Washington Poet Laureate Emerita Tod Marshall and a discussion of the broadside with artist and printer Mare Blocker, followed by an open house reception at the Type Foundry. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP for event updates and directions.
In conjunction with the 13 Nights on the River concert series, the Columbia County Authors Alliance and Riverfront Books will feature a different local author every Thursday from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM in downtown St. Helens, OR. Featured authors will give a reading, talk about their work, and answer questions. Learn more about the authors and this summertime literary event series here.
What a day! Thanks to all the presenters, volunteers, venues, sponsors and participants for a successful 2026 Clatskanie Raymond Carver Writing Festival.
We’re looking forward to a fun-filled day oriented around writing. The program starts at 9:30am at the Clatskanie Cultural Center (festival headquarters). Stop by to pick up a program and badge, and to catch the opening reception!
Pop in to sponsoring sites, pick up a keepsake print and “steal” a few minutes writing to short prompts from nine festival writers. A different printed prompt on the theme of “work” will be offered at each location, so plan on stealing time for all nine of them! This is a self-guided activity, and prompt cards are only available during the venues’ operating hours.
Find the cards at:
Carver Mural/old Clatskanie hospital building (all day)
Clatskanie Library (10am-2pm)
Clatskanie Food Hub (10am-6pm)
Cryptid Cookies (10am-3pm)
Fultano’s Pizza (11am-9pm)
Clatskanie Cultural Center (9:30am-6:15pm)
Raymond Carver Memorial Sculpture in Cope’s Park (all day)
The Castle (outdoor, all day)
Flowers n Fluff (6am-6pm)
New this year: focused writing time at lunch! Bring your prompts and spend the lunch hour writing in community at either Fultano’s Pizza or the Clatskanie Library.
42 years ago Tess Gallagher and Raymond Carver held an impromptu poetry reading at the Evergreen Shopping Center in beautiful Clatskanie, Oregon. So the legend goes… While en route to their home in Port Angeles, Washington, these two writers stopped by Clatskanie to visit Raymond’s birthplace. It was there in that parking lot with the view of the town and surrounding mountains that they were inspired to have an impromptu reading. From their car’s moonroof, they read to whomever passed by. They read to the sky, they read to the hills. They read to each other.
Join us at 4pm on May 9th at the Raymond Carver Mural to commemorate Tess and Raymond’s improvised 1984 parking lot poetry recital, and help us celebrate a favorite new Clatskanie tradition. Tess will start us off by reading a selection of Carver and Gallagher poems and shared anecdotes. Then it’s your turn. Bring a poem to share (one that inspires you or one you wrote) and read to those assembled in the parking lot!
Look for the sea green Subaru near the Carver Mural at the old Clatskanie hospital building (where Carver was born). The Carver Mural is at 183-175 N. Nehalem Street, Clatskanie, OR 97016.
At 5pm on May 9th, we’ll be hosting writers Janet Ebert, Robert Michael Pyle, and Gary Copeland Lilley for a one hour reading at Flowers n Fluff in their lovely, large outdoor garden seating area in the back. We’re delighted to be back at this popular local venue, which also houses a cozy cafe, florist and gift shop. (Hint: it’s a good spot to drop by and “Steal Time to Write” … or to pick up a fresh bouquet for Mother’s Day!)
Flowers n Fluff is at 45 E Columbia River Hwy, Clatskanie, OR 97016
An afternoon reading will be held at the Thomas J. Flippin House aka “The Castle,” starting on May 9th at 1pm with a line up including Craig Brandis, Jon Broderick, Florence Sage, and Tess Gallagher. The Castle is a local treasure, serving as our community Historical Society and Senior Center. Join us for an hour of poetry and storytelling in this National Historical site, surrounded by artifacts including Dr. Wooden’s baby book, where Raymond Carver’s birth was recorded.
“The Castle” is at 620 SW Tichenor St., Clatskanie, OR 97016