OBU to Host Red Dirt Book Festival Oct. 17-18

More than 80 Oklahoma authors, publishers, storytellers and musicians will descend upon Oklahoma Baptist University and St. Gregory's University in Shawnee for the first Red Dirt Book Festival Oct. 17-18, designed to discuss and celebrate the Oklahoma experience.

Due to the great response for the Red Dirt Book Festival, and to assure space and materials for participants, advance registration will be limited to the first 600 people who register on-line. There are 59 spaces available.

Registration is not required for two events in Raley Chapel. The opening session, featuring Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry, Guy Logsdon and Doug Watson, at 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 17; and the "Meet Tony Hillerman" session following are open to the public.

The Pioneer Library System - especially the Shawnee, Tecumseh and McLoud branches - is organizing the event. Grant assistance has been provided by the Oklahoma Humanities Council, augmented by many donations from Shawnee area businesses and individuals.

Dr. Bill Hagen, OBU professor of English, helped design a new library discussion series featuring Diane Glancy, Rilla Askew, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, and LeAnn Howe for the "Let's Talk About It, Oklahoma" program. Hagen will be one of several OBU faculty moderating or participating in sessions at the festival.

Others include:

Roots in Red Dirt: The Oklahoma Experience, Experience Oklahoma - Dr. Douglas Watson, OBU professor of English, performs as Will Rogers, appearing with another performer who will present Woody Guthrie.

The Oklahoma Experience: Re-Visions - A panel with authors Rilla Askew, Diane Glancy, LeAnn Howe and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, and Bill Hagen, OBU professor of English.

Trails and Tears: Oklahoma Authors on Reading and Writing the Western - Sidney Watson, OBU assistant professor of English.

Whispers and Shadows: Oklahoma Authors on Reading and Writing the Mystery, Part 1 - Bill Hagen, OBU professor of English; Bill Mitchell, OBU professor emeritus of English.

Red Dirt Reading Recommendations, Part 1 - Cathy Adams, head of public services at the OBU Mabee Learning Center

Stake Your Own Claim: Self Publishing, Part 2 - Deborah Blue, dean of the OBU College of Arts and Sciences

A Patchwork of Memories: Stitching the Pieces Together - Carol Humphrey, OBU professor of history.

For more information, including how to register, visit the festival's website at www.reddirtbookfestival.org. On site registration begins at 8 a.m., Friday, Oct. 17, at the Geiger Center.