This autumn, “turning leaves” has a dual meaning for the Chippewa Valley Book Festival. With the changing colors of fall comes the diversity of authors and genres in the festival’s ninth year celebrating writers and readers with the theme of “Many Voices, Many Worlds.” From Oct. 16-19, a number of discussions and readings are open to the public. Authors will gather to read Norwegian, Ojibwa, Hmong, and German, while other sessions will focus solely on one genre, such as mystery, fantasy, and sci-fi.

“It brings readers and authors together to meet informally, to create a kind of energy in the community,” says Mildred Larson, who has been on the festival committee since its beginning. “It’s a chance to make a connection between an author and what they write about.”

The Festival started in 1999 when the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library received grants from the American Library Association to bring authors to the community. Larson says committee members were inspired by the major book festival in Charlotte, N.C., called the Novello Festival. “We thought we could do something like it on a smaller scale,” says Larson.

Since then, the festival has brought in such writers as poet Naomi Shihab Nye and journalist Sandy Tolan. This year highlights include Tom Farley presenting on his deceased comedy star brother (Wisconsin’s own Chris Farley) and Oregon’s poet laureate, Lawson Fusao Inada.

The growing festival will hold presentations on Thursday and Sunday as well. Memorial High’s improv team will open for Farley, bringing in an aspect of spoken word. Also new this year is the hors d’oeuvre reception Friday night at the Haymarket Grill, open to the public to welcome author and readers.

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“I always look forward to hearing the authors tell the ‘story behind the story,’” says Pam Gardow, who has been on the organizing committee for six years. “I love hearing the juicy details that sometimes come out, and getting the insider’s view on the perils of the publishing industry.”

Gardow, the library media specialist at Memorial High School, especially enjoys the interaction between young readers and authors. “For me, the absolutely best moment is watching the students as they listen to the authors speak in the schools. These authors spark enormous interest in reading and inspire some students to dream of becoming authors themselves.”

The festival supports the blossoming efforts of young writers with the Creative Writing Competition for Young Writers, open to all students in grades 3-8. Ruth Cronje, UWEC English associate professor, and Arlene Radtke, then language arts chair at South Middle School, first drafted the guidelines six years ago. “It is very important for students to write for a variety of audiences and purposes, not just to complete assignments for teachers,” Radtke says. “When submitting work to writing contests, students are motivated to revise and polish their writing. They begin to see themselves as writers.”

Since then, the writing competition has received more than 300 entries, which bear witness to the diverse imaginations of its students. “Most published authors recall entering writing contests,” Radtke says. “Based on the quality of submissions, I am confident that fond memories of the writing competition will surface in the future biographies of area residents who pursue writing careers.”

Whether meeting local authors, finding new books to read, or learning about a new genre, the festival is a place where writers and readers with common interests can meet.

“It demonstrates the power of the written word and promotes reading,” says Gardow. “Studies show that people who read are more responsible citizens, volunteer more in their communities, and achieve a better quality of life in general.”

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CHIPPEWA VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL EVENTS

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: The Chris Farley Show by Tom Farley Oct. 16, 7pm • Little Theater, Memorial High School • FREE • 839-5004 •  Tom Farley remembers his brother, comedy star Chris Farley, as sensitive and passionate, deeply religious, and devoted to bringing laughter into others` lives. The Memorial High School improv team will open.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Regional Writers` Showcase Oct. 17, 4-5:30pm • Auditorium, Unitarian Universalist Congregation • FREE • 839-5004 •  Enjoy readings by Alan Jenkins, Frank Smoot, Devin Corbin, Joan Menefee, Jerry Poling, and Patricia Zontelli.
Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Eat with Your Favorite Author Oct. 17, 5:45-7:15pm • Haymarket Grill • $18 • 839-5004 •  Mingle with festival authors while enjoying refreshing cocktails and substantive hors d`oeuvres. Call or e-mail librarian@eauclaire.lib.wi.us by Oct. 8 for reservations.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: A Voice from the West Oct. 17, 7:30pm • Auditorium, Unitarian Universalist Congregation • FREE • 839-5004 •  Lawson Fusao Inada, Oregon`s poet laureate, considers himself a poetry salesman. Listen to him read, and celebrate and talk with him about the poetry/jazz connection in his work.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Surviving with Poetry: Women on the Edge of Chemo Oct. 18, 9-10:15am • Eau Claire Room, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library • FREE • 839-5004 •  When cancer pulls people off their everyday path, two writers show how poetry can help concentrate on life even while looking mortality in the face, with humor. Presented by Nadine S. St. Louis and Yvette Viets Flaten.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Voices of the Valley Oct. 18, 10:30am-noon • Eau Claire Room, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library • FREE • 839-5004 •  What if no one but your family understood your native language and you had to communicate in a foreign tongue? It`s happened in the Chippewa Valley. Listen to some writers of the past and present: Eldbjord Tolbin reads Norwegian; Johannes Strohschänk reads German; Mai Neng Moua reads Hmong; and Lawrence Martin reads Ojibwa. Lawson Fusao Inada responds and leads discussion of the ideas, emotions, and experiences found in multi-ethnic writing.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Castles in the Air: Worldbuilding 101 Oct. 18, 1:15-2:45pm • Eau Claire Room, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library • FREE • 839-5004 •  Patrick Rothfuss, Sandra Kring, and Kelly McCullough share and discuss their latest award-winning fantasy, historical, and science fiction novels.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: How Do You Like Your Murder? Oct. 18, 3-4:30pm • Eau Claire Room, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library • FREE • 839-5004 •  Wisconsin authors Marshall Cook (he`s cozy) and Jon Loomis (he`s hardboiled) will read from their mysteries and talk about the ins and outs of their storytelling.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Eat with Your Favorite Author Oct. 18, 5:30pm • Houligans • $23 • 839-5004 •  Rub elbows and chat up your favorite author, all while dining on delicious local cuisine. Call or e-mail librarian@eauclaire.lib.wi.us by Oct. 8 for reservations.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: What Next: Festival Writers Look Farther Afield Oct. 18, 7pm • Houligans • FREE • 839-5004 •  Festival authors read from their new and upcoming works.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Creative Writing Competition for Young Writers Winners` Reading Oct. 19, 1:30-3pm • Eau Claire Room, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library • FREE • 839-5004 •  Winners of the festival`s writing contest for young people present excerpts from their prize-winning works of poetry, prose, fiction, and nonfiction.

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Read `Em Their Writes Oct. 19, 1:30pm • Altoona Community Room, Altoona Public Library • FREE • 839-5004 •  Gary Niebuhr presents tips from his award-winning guide on how to organize your mystery discussion group, get participants, select titles, prepare for the meeting, and conduct discussions.