By Jen Rinaldi

Every year as our landscape changes from white to green, we drag ourselves from our winter caves, and our local creatives get to work planning a myriad of summer events, both indoors and out. We are blessed to be part of such a vibrant community of artisans, writers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. If there is one thing I can say about our mountain home, is that it is inspiring!

Being a writer of romance and an outdoor lover, I always look forward to attending and writing about happenings here year-round. Of these events, I find this discipline crucial to the fabric of our community.

— Literacy.

I have a deep passion for literacy. In January I attended Blue Ridge Elementary School’s literacy night. The school’s staff and students put on a magical Harry Potter-themed show, and I was proud to have attended.

Instilling the love of writing in children helps enrich our society in innumerable ways. It is as important as instilling a love for the outdoors, and the best part is that the two go hand in hand. School teaches us how to read, write, and calculate, but what it does not teach us is how to feel. That is where the arts and the outdoors come into play. Specifically writing.

I had the honor of meeting two people who are deeply involved in the promotion of local writers and literacy. David Gilmore and Kathleen Osborne are members of The Arizona Professional Writers and are key members of The White Mountain Festival of Books, an event that will take place over two days in August here in Show Low.

For those who don’t know Kathleen Osbourn, she is a podcaster, accomplished writer, and president of the Festival of Books. She has written many romance and space opera books. Her newest one is a paranormal romance/ space opera titled Hidden Dragons, which is available on Amazon. 

https://www.amazon.com/HIdden-Dragons-Chronicles-Xandavier-Book-

David Gilmore, who is a retired accountant and the treasurer for the Festival of Book is also the author of the book Operation Blue Sapphire. 

https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Blue-Sapphire-David-Gilmore-

2024 was the inaugural year of their festival. The Arts Alliance hosted the conference, which included keynote speakers from various writing fields. From publishing to promotion, non-fiction, and fiction, to capturing a memorable character through an action scene, last year’s speakers did not disappoint. I even spoke about censorship in children’s literature. Many people attended last year’s conference, which covered great topics.

This year, their lineup is even more dynamic for those wishing to pursue a career in writing. Among those speaking at the Arts Alliance of the White Mountains are Bing Bruce, who will be the lead keynote speaker.

Bruce is a radio and TV Production specialist. He will talk about his journey of over 30 years in the industry, which includes producing and directing commercials, his two nationally syndicated TV shows, and co-producing an award-winning comedy film. Bing created the “Rise Above the Noise” Podcast Academy and teaches individuals and groups how to be successful, professional podcasters. His new book has remained number one since its release. 

https://arizonanewstoday.com/press/raptor-films-re-introduces-rise-above-the-noise-podcast-academy-and-book-to-revolutionize-podcast-training/132170

Another speaker, Stephen Wade Nebgen is an active entertainment lawyer and one of his clients was Jack Black. Thomas Jacob “Jack” Black is an American actor, comedian, and musician, known for his roles in family and comedy films, as well as his voice work in animated films. 

Clair Murray will talk about the ins and outs of mystery writing. A former ghostwriter and website designer, she delved into the world of mystery writing. Her tagline is, Where Character, Crime, & Mystery Collide.

Claire-Dee Lim is an author, writing and film production professor, and content marketing writer and consultant. She’s also the co-screenwriter of the family film Firehouse Dog and creator of the comedic web series The Power Object, Mistress Marlena’s Sexology, and Donnie’s Diatribes.

Speakers will be in the main room of the Arts Alliance building, Friday, August 8th, and will begin at 8:30 a.m. There will be a lunch break, and the event will conclude at 3:30 p.m. The Arts Alliance is located at 251 Penrod Road, Show Low, AZ. You will need tickets for Friday’s conference, which you can purchase online at https://wmfestivalbooks.org/.

The next day the speakers from the conference will be at the Elk’s Lodge for the Festival of Books event which will showcase local authors and artisans, featuring books of all kinds, from mystery, nonfiction, fiction, romance, children’s books, and more. The event will have food, and activities for children and is a perfect family-friendly way to spend an afternoon.

Last year, 35 authors and many others from the publishing industry attended the book festival. The White Mountains’ Chapter of Arizona Professional Writers’ mission is to promote literacy, recognize writing achievements, inspire authors further writing growth, mentor aspiring writers, and foster fellowship, so bring the kids and come out and meet our local talent!

The Festival of Books will take place on Saturday, August 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is located at the Elks Lodge, 805 E. Whipple Street, Show Low AZ 85901.

The Festival of books 

If you are a writer or artist and wish to attend as a vendor or signing author, note that space is limited, and we will assign exhibit locations. Vendor forms can be found online at https://wmfestivalbooks.org/

The Festival of Books is a free family event. For more information, please visit their website.