The Sisters Festival of Books will present its keynote address in partnership with Deschutes Public Library: “Discussing A Hole in the Sky,” and “The El: A Conversation on Survival, Identity, and Storytelling.” This featured conversation brings together two acclaimed indigenous authors – Daniel H. Wilson and Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr. – for an exploration of survival, identity, and the power of storytelling to connect us across cultures and experiences.

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Daniel H. Wilson.

Daniel H. Wilson, a New York Times bestselling author known for “Robopocalypse,” returns with “A Hole in the Sky” – a sweeping first-contact novel in the most creative tradition of extraterrestrial fiction. Drawing on Wilson’s unique background as both a threat forecaster for the United States Air Force and a Cherokee Nation citizen, this propulsive novel asks probing questions about nonhuman intelligence, the Western mindset, and humans’ understanding of reality.

Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr., co-editor of the bestselling anthology “Never Whistle at Night,” presents “The El,” a semi-autobiographical novel that follows a group of teenage gang members as they trek across Chicago to a momentous meeting, inspired by the cult classic film, “The Warriors.” Immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the author’s beloved city, “The El” will transport you to that singular sun- and blood-soaked day in Chicago. It is a love letter to another time, to a city, and to a group of friends trying to find their place and make their way in a world that doesn’t want them.

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Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr.

Together, Wilson and Van Alst will share an hour of thought-provoking conversation that spans speculative futures and contemporary realities, exploring how fiction can illuminate what it means to endure, to resist, and to find meaning through story.

The keynote will take place on Saturday, September 13, at 3:30 p.m. at Sisters Movie House and is free and open to all. No ticket is required – just bring your curiosity and a love for stories that challenge, inspire, and endure.

For more information, visit http://www.sistersfob.org.