Clark College, Fort Vancouver High literary fests feature local students, visiting best-sellers

National Poetry Month was over at the end of April, but May is brimming with excellent words too — both verse and prose. Clark College and Fort Vancouver High School are both offering free literary festivals where you can absorb all sorts of writing by local and visiting scribes.

Marie Bostwick, a best-selling author of historical and what’s termed “uplifting women’s fiction,” is probably the biggest name coming to Clark. An unabashed fan of happy endings, she’s the author of many heartfelt rustic-family novels — including her “Cobbled Court Quilt” series about the loves, friendships and families of quilting women. Bostwick is a frequent speaker at quilter conferences as well as writers conferences.

If you want to attend Bostwick’s talk at noon on May 15, email anelson@clark.edu. Space is limited for this event.

Also scheduled for Clark College’s “Subtext” literary festival are poet Roger Reeves; readings from the new edition of Clark’s annual literary journal “The Phoenix”; memoirist and weight lifter Lacy Davis; novelist Leni Zumas; children’s book author Kate Berube; and a reading by Clark students, staff and faculty.

Meanwhile, Fort Vancouver High School’s festival is already underway, but the remaining lineup still features 13 professional writers appearing on May 15, May 17 and May 22; they’ll be joined by about twice as many student writers for some very rich and varied readings. This is the fifth year that teacher Ben Jatos has organized the growing literary festival, which he named “Orpheus” after the mythological Greek poet and musician whose art was so great, it charmed stones and even the gods themselves. Orpheus tried to raise his wife from the dead, too, but that didn’t go exactly as planned; even the greatest artists find their limits. Join the writers of Fort Vancouver High School as they test theirs.

“It’s been thrilling watching kids share their authentic voice and tell their stories in front of their friends, family and community,” said Jatos. “That they get to share the stage with professional writers empowers them and validates their talents.”

Scott Hewitt: 360-735-4525; scott.hewitt@columbian.com; twitter.com/_scotthewitt