Aspen Words

2024 Community Read Book Pick-Up
2024-07-17 12:00 - 18:00 (America/Denver) | Pitkin County Library, 120 N. Mill St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Aspen Words and Pitkin County Library are thrilled to present the 2024 Community Read, which celebrates literature, unites readers around a work of fiction and ignites meaningful conversation on the vital social issues explored in the novel, Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad, winner of the 2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize.
Join us at Pitkin County Library’s front lawn to pick-up your free copy of the award-winning novel on Wednesday, July 17 between 12-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.

2024 Community Read Beyond the Book: Hamlet Movie Weekend
2024-09-13 08:00 - 2024-09-14 17:00, 2024-09-14 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | Pitkin County Library, 120 N. Mill St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Aspen Words in partnership with the Pitkin County Library Cinema presents a “Hamlet” movie weekend.
Join us in the Pitkin County Library Dunaway Community Meeting Room on Friday and Saturday, September 13 & 14 to watch back-t0-back silver screen renditions of “Hamlet” 1996 and 1948.
Exact times and registration details to come.
All Community Read Events are free and open to all.

AN EVENING WITH MARY LOUISE KELLY MODERATED BY BREEZE RICHARDSON
2024-10-09 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | TACAW, 400 Robinson St., Basalt, CO, 81621
Join us for a conversation with 2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize ceremony moderator, novelist and host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Mary Louise Kelly.
Moderator: Aspen Public Radio’s Executive Director, Breeze Richardson.
This event is free and open to all, registration is requested.
The event is currently at capacity,
if you are interested in attending plan to arrive when the doors open at 5:30 p.m.
DOORS: Open at 5:30 p.m.
EVENT: Conversation 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
SEATING: General admission and available on a first come, first served basis.
Come early and purchase a drink at the TACAW bar.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Louise Kelly is a host of “All Things Considered,” NPR’s award-winning afternoon newsmagazine. Previously, she spent a decade as national security correspondent for NPR News, and she’s kept that focus in her role as anchor. That’s meant taking “All Things Considered” to Russia, North Korea, Iran and beyond.
She’s published two novels, “Anonymous Sources” and “The Bullet,” as well as the New York Times bestselling memoir, “It. Goes. So. Fast. The Year of No Do-Overs.” Her writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, among other publications, and she serves as a contributing writer at The Atlantic.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Breeze Richardson joined the Aspen Public Radio team in June 2021. Highly-respected in public media for her strategic planning and communications background, she has a passion for telling stories and producing community-focused programming.
Since arriving in the Roaring Fork Valley, Breeze has been on stage exploring disability and inclusion with 1A’s Jenn White, discussing the importance of local journalism for Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, and in conversation with Tockukwu Okafor, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and 2023 Aspen Words Literary Prize winner Jamil Jan Kochaifor Aspen Words. In February 2023, she took the stage at the Wheeler Opera House with NPR’s Ailsa Chang to lead a conversation about making big career changes, representation in media, and the impact of investigative journalism.
Breeze currently serves as President of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio coalition, and is an elected member of the Western States Public Radio Board of Directors. In 2024, she completed the Public Media Diversity Leaders Initiative (PMDLI) hosted by the Riley Institute at Furman University, and is a proud alumni of the Aspen Institute Hurst Leaders Forum.

Aspen Words Literary Prize Ceremony
2025-04-23 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
WINNER ANNOUNCED: APRIL 23
at the Morgan Library & Museum
225 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
Program runs: 6:30-7:30 p.m. ET
Moderated by Bilal Qureshi
JOIN US!
General Admission (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Your ticket includes:
– First come, first served seating at the ceremony
– Access to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception following the ceremony
Register here
Livestream Access (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Access includes:
-A link to view the event in real-time 4:30-5:30 p.m. MT/6:30-7:30 p.m. ET
Register here
VIP Ticket & Tour
Your ticket includes:
– Docent tour of the secrets and rarities of the Morgan Library & Museum
– A prosecco toast
– Premium reserved seating for the ceremony
– Access to the wine and hors d’oeuvres reception following the ceremony
– A copy of a finalist book
If you select a VIP ticket, please arrive at the Morgan by 5:15 p.m. ET.
Purchase tickets here
Livestream Party at Pitkin County Library (FREE): Donation Appreciated
Your ticket includes:
– Real-time viewing party of the Aspen Words Literary Prize Ceremony 4:30-5:30 MT
-Light refreshments and mingling
Register to attend the livestream party here!

The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”) and Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
This event is moderated by Bilal Qureshi. Bilal Qureshi is an independent essayist, broadcaster and critic. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Times, Foreign Policy and the Criterion Collection. He wrote the column “Elsewhere” for the journal Film Quarterly from 2016 – 2023. Bilal’s radio reporting has aired across NPR’s flagship news magazines and podcasts – and on the “BBC Arts Hour”.  Bilal graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia in 2004 and earned an M.S. in Broadcasting from the Columbia School of Journalism in 2007. He’s a recipient of the USC Getty Fellowship for Arts Journalism, the Robert Bosch Fellowship, and has served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio and Criticism. Bilal was born in Kohat, Pakistan, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and currently divides his time between Accra and Los Angeles.

Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist Announced November 13
2025-11-13 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words will announce the longlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on November 13.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist Announced March 11
2026-03-04 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words will announce the shortlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on March 11.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize
