Overview:

The festival features a community StorySLAM, author presentations and signings, workshops, and an eight-course literary banquet at venues throughout the town.

The Sisters Festival of Books will showcase more than 25 authors from across the Pacific Northwest during a three-day celebration of storytelling and literature Sept. 12-14 in Sisters. 

The festival features a community StorySLAM, author presentations and signings, workshops, and an eight-course literary banquet at venues throughout the town. Events range from free to ticketed with sliding scale options available. 

The first festival was held in 2019 when Lane Jacobson, owner of Paulina Springs Books, collaborated with community members to bring the book festival to Central Oregon. At the time, the closest book festival was in Portland. The festival was paused during the pandemic and re-formed in 2024 as the nonprofit Sisters Festival of Books, with Jacobson as director. 

What sets this festival apart 

Unlike traditional book festivals focused on sales and academic lectures, the Sisters event emphasizes community connection through storytelling. Attendees don’t need to be avid readers or familiar with featured authors to participate, and many events are free. 

The Sisters Festival of Books features a mix of local and visiting authors. The festival brings together people who have spent years exploring topics ranging from Bend’s housing crisis to Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels, from Pacific Northwest geology to wildland firefighting. Presentations follow an informal, conversational TED Talk format. 

Dana Greenblatt, programs director, is excited about the festival’s future, saying she hopes it will “continue to reach more folks in the community and continue to make it more accessible to serve an even broader audience.” 

Attendees can talk with local and visiting authors at one of many events throughout the weekend. 
Courtesy: Sisters Festival of Books 

Weekend highlights 

Friday evening kicks off with a StorySLAM at The Belfry, where 10 community members share 5-minute true stories on the theme “Under the Surface.” The Moth-style event features unscripted, personal narratives from local residents. 

Saturday’s programming at Sisters Movie House includes author presentations from 11am to 3pm, followed by a keynote discussion on “A Hole in the Sky and The El: A Conversation on Survival, Identity, and Storytelling.” The day concludes with a literary banquet at Paulina Springs Books. 

Sunday features workshops and panels for both experienced and aspiring writers. The event culminates with the Local Author Extravaganza, where 11 authors will have 5 minutes each to pitch their books, followed by a breakout session for questions and book signings. Tickets for the Local Author Extravaganza include a voucher for any of the books being presented. 

Complete schedule 

Friday, Sept. 12 

4 pm: Publishing workshop (The Slow Down State) 

6 pm: StorySLAM (The Belfry) 

Saturday, Sept. 13 

9 am: Gender Bender Workshop (Toriizaka Art) 

10 am: Children’s Storytime with Phoebe Wahl (Paulina Springs Books) 

11 am-3 pm: Author presentations and signings (Sisters Movie House) 

3:30 pm: Keynote address (Sisters Movie House) 

5 pm: Spiritual Justice workshop (The Hub) 

6 pm: Literary banquet (Paulina Springs Books) 

Sunday, Sept. 14 

9 am: Writers Emotional Toolkit workshop (Pine Meadow Ranch) 

12:30 pm: Art of Fiction panel (Paulina Springs Books) 

2:30 pm: Local Author Extravaganza (Paulina Springs Books) 

This article appears in the Source September 11, 2025.

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