By Seth Abrahamson, CVPost reporting intern
The Chippewa Valley Book Festival has rebranded its name and website ahead of this fall’s annual event, which will run from Oct. 15-25 at numerous area locations.
The new website premiered June 1 and includes a new logo and tagline.
Sara Meeks, chairperson of the Marketing committee, designed the logo and the steering committee chose the book spines that appear in it. Starr Struck Art + Design Studio redesigned the website.
The 19th annual Festival will host some 20 different events involving many local authors and poets, at sites that include the new Pablo Center at the Confluence. In addition to authors showcasing their works, the Festival will include book discussions, book signings, workshops, programs for young audiences and a dinner with authors.
A Pablo Center highlight will be Pulitzer Prize-winning author Caroline Fraser, whose presentation is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in the new RCU Theatre.
Fraser won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Best Biography for Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which was also named one of The New York Times’ 10 best books of 2017. Tickets for Fraser’s appearance will be $10 and will be available later in the summer on the Festival’s website.
Local authors taking part include Nickolas Butler, author of award-winning books Shotgun Lovesongs: Beneath the Bonfire, and The Hearts of Men. Tessa Fontaine, Fraser, Peter Geye, Miriam Karmel and many others will be involved throughout the 10-day Festival.
The Chippewa Valley Book Festival is part of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center (ECRAC), which will be merging with the Pablo Center at the Confluence this summer, according to Judy Dekan, co-coordinator of the Festival.
The Festival is sponsored by ECRAC’s Literary Arts Committee. It partners with area libraries and school districts, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College and the Chippewa Valley Museum. The festival relies on local support from area businesses and individuals.
For more information, see the Festival’s Facebook page and website for the most-up-to-date information on events and authors.