(downtown) Omaha Lit Fest pays tribute to women writers

Each year, Lit Fest celebrates a theme that reflects a sign of the times. During the eighth annual (downtown) Omaha Lit Fest on October 19 and 20 at W. Dale Clark Main Library, 215 S. 15th St., the manners and conduct of contemporary women writers and editors will be examined. The event is free and open to the public. Participants will hear new work, and explore answers to frequently asked questions. Does “the woman’s novel” exist, and if so, what is it and what does it do? Can women write convincingly about male characters, and can men write convincingly about female characters? Is literary publishing friendly to women?

The celebration kicks off Friday, Oct. 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m., with the Sugar/Spice opening night party. The party will feature poets Stacey Waite and Katie F-S, who will introduce high school slam poets and conduct a performance at 7 p.m. Those in attendance can also look forward to an altered books art exhibit, an edible books contest, and performances throughout the evening by an all-girl string quartet from Millard South High School. On Saturday, Oct. 20, there will be a series of panel discussions.

1 p.m. - Your Guide to Women’s Work: the professional aspects of writing/editing/publishing.

2 p.m. - Your Guide to the Literary Thriller: Joy Castro reads from Hell or High Water, and discusses the maps and plots of her New Orleans-set novel.

3 p.m. – Your Guide to Literary Fame: Rhonda Sherman discusses the New Yorker Festival, The New Yorker magazine, and the art of the literary spectacle.

4 p.m. - Your Guide to Family Dysfunction: Elizabeth Crane reads from her portrait of a family, the novel We Only Know So Much.

5 p.m. - Your Guide to Unladylike Demeanor: women writers making people nervous.

The Omaha Lit Fest is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and has been supported and/or sponsored by a number of people and organizations. A full schedule of events is available at omahalitfest.com. All events are free and open to the public. Visit omahalibrary.org for information about additional programs offered at Omaha Public Library’s 12 metro locations.