An ardent bird-watcher, he has served on the board of the American Bird Conservancy since 2008, and has received the EuroNatur Award for his work in bird conservation.
Book Ball
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Book Ball | July 10, 2026 | The Aspen Meadows Resort
with Jonathan Franzen
We are honored to welcome bestselling author Jonathan Franzen as the keynote speaker for Book Ball 2026.
We hope you will join a vibrant and passionate community to celebrate writers and readers, and to connect through the power of stories on July 10, 2026, at Aspen Meadows.
This special evening raises vital funds to support Aspen Words programs, including the Aspen Literary Festival, Writers in the Schools, scholarships for emerging writers, and community talks with Pulitzer Prize–winning authors.
About the Keynote Speaker
Jonathan Franzen is the author of six novels, most recently “Crossroads” and “Purity,” and five works of nonfiction, including “The Discomfort Zone,” “Farther Away,” and “The End of the End of the Earth.”
Among his honors are the National Book Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Award, the Heartland Prize, Die Welt Literature Prize, the Budapest Grand Prize, and the first Carlos Fuentes Medal awarded at the Guadalajara International Book Fair. Franzen is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the German Akademie der Künste, and the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
BOOK BALL
Thursday, July 10, 2026
5:45-9:30 p.m. MT
ASPEN WORDS ANNUAL BENEFIT DINNER
Featuring
Jonathan Franzen
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Doerr-Hosier Center at the Aspen Meadows Resort
*Please note there are no refunds for tickets or tables
Book Ball FAQ
Aspen Words is dedicated to encouraging writers, inspiring readers, and connecting communities through storytelling. Each year, our small team hosts dozens of events, reaching over 8,700 participants through workshops, speaker series, awards, and literary gatherings. Your ticket purchase directly supports:
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Scholarships for Emerging Writers – Providing access to our renowned writers’ conference for talented authors from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
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Free Youth Poetry Workshops – Empowering middle and high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley to find their voice through spoken word and creative expression.
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Free Tickets for Educators & Students – Ensuring accessibility to all Aspen Words events, both in-person and virtual.
Additionally, your support helps sustain our growing literary programs:
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Aspen Words Literary Prize – A $35,000 annual award celebrating fiction that illuminates vital social issues and inspires meaningful change.
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Aspen Literary Festival – Launching in 2025, this festival will bring authors and readers together for an immersive literary experience.
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Aspen Writers Network – A resource for local writers to connect, develop their craft, and share their work.
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Community Reads – Fostering connection through shared reading experiences and discussions.
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The Editing Room – Offering customized professional feedback to writers.
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Summer Words – A world-renowned writing conference and literary gathering.
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Winter Words – A celebrated speaker series featuring today’s most influential literary voices.
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Youth Programming – Including Writers in the Schools and initiatives that encourage young people to explore storytelling.
Aspen Words continues to grow its impact, serving as a dynamic hub for literary culture and a beacon for storytelling excellence. Thank you for being part of this mission!
Annually, our small team hosts dozens of events serving over 8,700 participants. These include adult and youth writing workshops, an author speaker series, writers residencies, a literary award celebrating fiction with social impact, a community read, and more! Your contribution helps support:
- Writers conference scholarships for emerging writers from historically underrepresented groups.
- Free poetry slam workshops for middle and high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley.
- Free tickets for educators and students to attend all events, virtual or in-person.
- Community book club discussions and Red Brick lawn events.
Thank You
