Saturday festival celebrates writing, authors

With the colder weather comes a craving for comforting indoor activities. Sandpoint boasts a healthy population of published and amateur writers, many of whom enjoy getting together to network, encourage each other, and develop their craft.

The Idaho Writers’ League is one of these groups. The Sandpoint Writers on the Lake Chapter of IWL is partnering with The Library to host The Local Authors’ Festival this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is free and includes interactive writers’ workshops, a local author meet and greet, and 7-minute author readings where the audience votes for their favorite. Writers of all ages and levels of experience are encouraged to participate. Impromptu pieces are welcome too.

While the main objective is to bring the writing community together, avid readers who enjoy discovering local talent will also enjoy the event. Such ones might also enjoy The Local Author Collection; a page on The Library’s website that highlights books written by local authors. Find it at .ebonnerlibrary.org.

The Local Authors’ Festival event also serves as the official kick-off of National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The initiative encourages people to embark on a 30-day quest to write a 50,000-word novel in the month of November. People of all writing abilities and platforms participate each year. The Library will host weekly write-in events during November with writing prompts, a facilitator, “writing fuel” and collaborative writer support. Interested ones should register by calling Mike Bauer, The Library’s Lifelong Learning coordinator, at 208-265-2665. He is also the go-to person for information about the Local Authors’ Festival.

Em- brace the cooler weather and share your love of reading and writing with others in your community by joining us for the Local Authors’ Festival this Saturday at The Library.

The following classes and events take place at the East Bonner County Library District Sandpoint Branch, 1407 Cedar St. unless otherwise indicated.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

• Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Fridays — RPG and MAC (Role Playing Games and Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., in the Innovia Foundation Community Room B. Teens play Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and other RPGs. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Oct. 26 — Local Writers’ Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the community room. Join us for a day of writer’s workshops, author reading and writing contests, book signings and networking with local authors and avid readers. Includes a kickoff to National Novel Writing Month (NanoWriMo) in November! Free and open to everyone of all ages! Presented by the Idaho Writers’ League – Sandpoint Chapter and the East Bonner County Library District. Information: Mike Bauer, 208-265-2665.

- Saturdays in October — Visual Communication Skills and American Sign Language, 10:30 a.m. in the Lifelong Learning Center (Room 202). Open your eyes for a hands on workout in communication skills. Welcome anyone struggling with hearing loss or anyone interested in learning about American Sign Language and the visual culture of the deaf community. Open to new students until third class. Registration or permission for course required after Oct. 19. Information: Susan Schaller, susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Saturday, Oct. 26 — SHS eSports at The Library, 1 p.m., in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Making eSports available to high school gamers by facilitating healthy competition on a varsity level in a comfortable environment is the mission of the HSEL. The Library is partnering with the SHS eSports team to further that mission. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturdays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Monday, Oct. 21 ­— Open Play with Cardboard Creations, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. This is a drop-in STEM-inspired “What can you build?” challenge. Younger children should have a parent present. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay & play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions), 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Youth under 10 years old must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Wednesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library; stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesdays — Clark Fork Storytime, 11:30 a.m., Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-8. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesday, Oct. 30 — paper monsters, 2:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. Fold paper into scary monsters. Geared to elementary school kids, but open to all. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 3 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge as space permits. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Thursday, Oct. 31 ­— Halloween dance party and parade, 10:30 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Bring your toddlers and preschoolers to our annual Halloween Dance Party followed by a parade through The Library to show off your little ones’ costumes! Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Thursday, Oct. 31 — Teen Halloween Party, 3-6 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Enter the world of HP Lovecraft in Call of Cthulhu interactive gaming on VR. There will be snacks, candy, and fun! Costumes encouraged. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Tuesdays-Thursdays until 6 p.m., and Fridays until 5 p.m. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org, or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “I Know It’s Autumn” by Eileen Spinelli at Dover City Park and “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

- Now through Sunday, Dec. 1 — Clark Fork Autumn Reading Program — for all ages. Read between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1 and record the name of each book, full magazine, or book on tape with the author’s name. For each completed item, earn a library bidding dollar for use in the Holiday Silent Auction held on Dec. 6 and 7. Information: 208-266-1321.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.