Tahoe WordWave 2015 lineup announced

Writers, readers and performers from all around the country will appear at South Lake Tahoe Oct. 9-11, 2015 for WordWave, a three-day festival held on the grounds of Valhalla at the Tallac Historic Site. This literary mash-up will feature oral storytelling, theater performances and free readings, panels on craft, yoga, and a novel writing camp for kids. Highlights include a one-act playwriting contest, a Maker’s Station demo with bookbinding, letterpress, drum making, and found poetry and art. Ticketed events include a steampunk ball, workshops, and even a hike.

Presenters include the internationally bestselling author Garth Stein, whose book “The Art of Racing in the Rain” has sold more than 4 million copies and been published in 35 languages. His newest book, “A Sudden Light,” is set in a large historic house in the woods similar to Valhalla’s Grand Hall, the site of WordWave’s Friday night steampunk ball. Other speakers confirmed include author Pam Houston (“Contents May Have Shifted,” “Cowboys Are My Weakness”), Gayle Brandeis (“The Book of Dead Birds,” “Delta Girls”), award-winning poet Camille T. Dungy and Christian Kiefer (“The Animals”) on songwriting.

Native American storytellers, NEA award recipient Ralph Burns of the Paiute Tribe and Ben Rupert of the Washoe Tribe, will also present. The Sierra Showcase will feature 15 writers from the greater Tahoe region on subjects as diverse as travel and adventure writing, Tahoe history, and nature writing.

In addition to the free festival on Saturday, WordWave will offer paid workshops on craft and agent sessions; the entire schedule is online at www.TahoeWordWave.com. The one-act play contest is accepting submissions through June 30.

For up-to-date information, go to www.TahoeWordWave.com. You can also find TahoeWordWave on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For more information or to volunteer contact tahoewordwave@gmail.com. WordWave is sponsored in part by Tahoe South and Valhalla Tahoe.