Aspen Words

2025 Book Ball
2025-06-13 17:45 - 21:30 (America/Denver)
Aspen Words’ 2025 Book Ball promises to be a real page-turner! Join author and keynote speaker Hampton Sides for an unforgettable experience with fellow literature lovers while enjoying cocktails and dinner at the historic Hotel Jerome. Book Ball raises critical funds to support Aspen Words programs, including writers in the schools, scholarships for aspiring writers and community talks with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors.
THANK YOU TO OUR HOST COMMITTEE
Suzanne Bober and Steve Kahn | Chris and Andrea Bryan | Sue and Ron Hopkinson | Beth and Josh Mondry | Dave and Sian Oberman

About the Keynote Speaker

HAMPTON SIDES is best-known for his gripping non-fiction adventure stories set in war or depicting epic expeditions of discovery and exploration. He is the author of the bestselling histories “Ghost Soldiers,” “Blood and Thunder,” “Hellhound On His Trail,” “In the Kingdom of Ice,” and, most recently, “The Wide Wide Sea.”

AWN June Meeting: Member Readings
2025-06-19 18:30 - 20:30
Thursday, June 19 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
BECOME A MEMBER
Member Readings with Optional Feedback
Third Thursday – June 19, at Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., Carbondale), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This month’s meeting is one of the more important ones in our schedule. It provides the opportunity for you to support your fellow writers and/or be supported. We will be having member readings with optional feedback.

Reading Rules:
· Sign up in person at the meeting
· Readings are 4 minutes max (yes, we enforce this). Please practice and time yourself.
· Constructive feedback (1 minute max) per reviewer = what you liked best + one area you suggest the writer take another look at.

2025 Summer Words Writers Conference
2025-06-22 08:00 - 2025-06-27 17:00
Join us June 22-27 2025, in Snowmass Village for inspiring workshops, readings and craft talks at the Viewline Resort.
General admission workshops including Book Branding, Generative Writing and a Readers Retreat are filled on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Register today!
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Summer Words 2025 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music.
The faculty lineup and workshop descriptions for Summer Words 2025 are now available.
Learn more about Summer Words here.

Book Branding: From Manuscripts to Momentum with Taryn Roeder -- Register Today!
2025-06-22 09:00 - 2025-06-27 11:00
Registration for general application workshops is open now!

General admission workshops including Book Branding and Generative Writing are filled on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Register today!
Daily workshops Monday – Friday from 9-11am.

Taryn Roeder is executive director of publicity at Abrams Books, leading the publicity departments for the Adult and Children’s divisions. Taryn has 20+ years of experience in book publicity and has worked with major figures in politics, science, art, and music, as well as on literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. Taryn was previously senior director of publicity at HarperCollins. While managing a team of publicists there, Taryn worked on many titles, including the instant New York Times bestseller “A Sacred Oath” by former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and “Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times” by Azar Nafisi. Prior to that, Taryn was at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for 17 years, rising in leadership to become the vice president, director of publicity. She worked with New York Times bestselling authors Temple Grandin, Guy Raz and Sinead O’Connor, and on Lori Gottlieb’s “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.” She led the publicity campaigns for many beloved debut novels, including instant New York Times bestsellers “Black Buck” by Mateo Askaripour and“Friday Black ”by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, as well as on Adrienne Brodeur’s highly acclaimed memoir “Wild Game.” While it is true that some books are easier to promote than others, Taryn swears she loves all of her authors equally
REGISTER NOW
Workshop Description
From Manuscript to Momentum: Elevate Your Book’s Success
You’ve written (or nearly completed) your book—so what’s next? How can you set yourself up for success and best shepherd your book into the world? And what does success truly mean for you? In this dynamic and interactive workshop, we’ll demystify the world of book publicity and promotion and equip you with actionable tools to navigate the process confidently. You’ll receive personalized guidance to craft a compelling elevator pitch and uncover your most engaging hooks and talking points. We’ll explore strategies to amplify your author platform, strengthen your media savvy, and build your press contacts. You’ll gain insider insights into the book publicity timeline, learn how to create impactful press kit materials, and discover opportunities to write and place book-adjacent content such as opinion pieces and curated reading lists. We’ll also dive into the value of author tours, festival appearances, and other events, and how to make them work for you. Through hands-on exercises and tailored assignments, you’ll leave this workshop with clear strategies to confidently promote your book while staying true to your goals and values as an author.
This is a 5-day workshop, meeting for 2-hours a day.
2025 Tuition:
2025 5-Day Inside the World of Book Publishing & Book Branding: $1,150
Tuition Includes:

Faculty instruction and materials
Access to all public panels throughout the week
Breakfast and lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
Opening and closing receptions
Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Social activities such as guided hikes, an open mic evening and informal gatherings.

More About The 2025 Summer Words Writers Conference

June 22-27 in Snowmass Village, CO

Join us June 22-27 2025, in Snowmass Village for inspiring workshops, readings and craft talks at the Viewline Resort.
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Summer Words 2025 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music.
The faculty lineup and workshop descriptions for Summer Words 2025 are now available, and applications are open!

Generative Writing with Laura Zigman -- Register Today!
2025-06-22 09:00 - 2025-06-27 12:00
Registration for general application workshops is open now!

General admission workshops including Book Branding and Generative Writing are filled on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. Register today!
Daily workshops Monday – Friday from 9am-12pm.

Laura Zigman is the author of six novels, including “Small World,” “Separation Anxiety”(which was optioned by Julianne Nicholson and the production company Wiip (“Mare of Easttown”) for a limited television series); and “Animal Husbandry”(which was made into the movie “Someone Like You,” starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd). She has ghostwritten/collaborated on several works of non-fiction, including Eddie Izzard’s New York Times bestseller, “Believe Me”; been a contributor to The New York Times,and was the recipient of a Yaddo residency.  She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she consults for bookstores and literary events, and helps clients via Zoom, phone and sometimes in person with their writing. She is also at work on two new novels
Workshop Description
Most workshops focus on polishing and fine-tuning finished work (a short story, chapters of a novel). This workshop starts at the opposite end of the process– at the beginning–with an idea, a first line, a voice, an exchange of dialogue. Stories are built, sentence by sentence, scene by scene, and this workshop will cover some of the fundamental elements of storytelling: point of view, conflict, character arc, narrative structure, why a story begins where it does. Who is telling the story and can they be trusted? What do they want? What are the points of conflict? Where is the heart and soul of the story and what do we want the reader to feel? Whether you’rejust starting out or are a more experienced writer looking to gain new insight into the craft and process of writing, this generative workshop intends to inspire you to explore new work without fear of judgment, to embrace the joy and freedom of creativity in order to spark fresh ideas, and ultimately to help you find your way into the story you most want to tell.
This is a 5-day workshop, meeting for 3-hours a day.
REGISTER NOW

2025 Tuition:
2025 5-Day Generative Writing:  $1,925
Tuition Includes:

Faculty instruction and materials
Access to all public panels throughout the week
Breakfast and lunch at the Viewline Resort (Monday through Friday)
Opening and closing receptions
Discounted lodging rates at our conference site, the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village, Colorado.
Two professional consultations with an agent and/or editor for most juried and book branding workshop participants (*generative writing and screenwriting students will have two alternative activities instead of one-on-one consultations)
Social activities such as guided hikes, an open mic evening and informal gatherings.

More About The 2025 Summer Words Writers Conference

June 22-27 in Snowmass Village, CO

Join us June 22-27 2025, in Snowmass Village for inspiring workshops, readings and craft talks at the Viewline Resort.
Recognized as one of the nation’s top literary gatherings, Summer Words is a six-day celebration of words, stories and ideas held annually in an idyllic Rocky Mountain setting.
Summer Words 2025 will return to Snowmass Village, Colorado, a vibrant community just 9 miles from Aspen, with incredible mountain vistas in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, shopping, unique special events and music.
The faculty lineup and workshop descriptions for Summer Words 2025 are now available, and applications are open!

Attend the Summer Words 2025 Panels
2025-06-23 13:30 - 2025-06-26 17:30
The Viewline Resort | Snowmass Village, CO
100 Elbert Ln, Snowmass Village, CO 81615
Tune In to the Summer Words 2025 PanelsJoin us at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass Village for an exciting lineup of panels featuring acclaimed Summer Words faculty, literary agents, and editors.
Purchase your Panel Pass here!Your Panels Pass includes access to six engaging panels designed to inspire and inform writers at every stage.
View the full schedule and your order summary below:
Panel ScheduleMonday, June 23 | 1:30–2:30 p.m.Publishing Unpacked: What Every Writer Needs to Know
From landing an agent to shaping your manuscript, to making sense of marketing, this panel pulls back the curtain on the publishing process. Expect candid insights, smart strategies, and a few myths busted along the way.
Speakers: Amy Guay, Kayla Lightner, Rakesh Satyal, Michael Taeckens
Moderator: Sally Wofford-Girand
Tuesday, June 24 | 3:30–4:30 p.m.Narrative Architecture: Structure and POV
Structure and POV shape every story, but how do you choose the right approach? This panel explores how structure enhances theme, how POV builds intimacy and tension, and how both work together to keep readers hooked.
Speakers: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Joshua Mohr, Héctor Tobar
Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin
Wednesday, June 25 | 3:30–4:00 p.m.How to Make Plot Your Friend
Plot doesn’t have to be a struggle! In this talk, Steve Almond will demystify how stories build momentum, tension, and emotional payoff—without feeling forced. Expect practical tools and a new perspective on storytelling’s most essential element.
Speaker: Steve Almond

Wednesday, June 25 | 4:10–4:40 p.m.12 Tips for Surviving and Thriving as a Writer (That Have Almost Nothing to Do with Craft)
Writing is an art, but sustaining a writing life is another challenge. Laura Zigman shares twelve hard-won lessons on overcoming self-doubt, redefining success, and staying inspired—even when the words won’t come.
Speaker: Laura Zigman

Thursday, June 26 | 3:00–4:00 p.m.Setting the Hook: Creating Characters That Keep Readers Turning the Page
What makes a character unforgettable? This panel explores how to craft multidimensional, flawed, and compelling protagonists (and antagonists!) who linger in readers’ and viewers’ minds long after the last page.
Speakers: Vanessa Chan, P. Djèlí Clark, Christina Lazaridi,
Moderator: Breeze Richardson

Thursday, June 26 | 4:15–5:30 p.m.Next Chapters: Staying Inspired After Summer Words
What happens after the conference ends? In this closing session, faculty members will reflect on key takeaways from the week, share their own creative routines, and offer advice on maintaining inspiration, discipline, and community in your writing life.
Speakers: Faculty
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur

AWN July Meeting: Summer Soiree
2025-07-17 18:30 - 20:30
Thursday, July 17 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Summer Soiree & Agent AMA (Ask Me Anything)
Third Thursday – July 17, at The Village Smithy – only 530 ft down Main St. from Bonfire Coffee (26 S 3rd St, Carbondale, CO 81623), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Featuring power agent Seth Fishman for an in-person AMA.
Head of the Los Angeles office, Seth is a Vice President and agent at The Gernert Company, which he joined in 2010 after beginning his career as an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. Born in Midland, Texas, he graduated from Princeton University and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.
His interests are wide-ranging, but in particular he represents authors with a new voice, an original idea, an entirely breathtaking creative angle in both fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and children, and is the author of the award-winning picture book, “A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars”, along with “Power Up” and “The Ocean In Your Bathtub”, as well as two YA books
BECOME A MEMBER

Aspen Words Literary Prize Book Distribution Party
2025-07-22 17:00 - 18:30
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 | Pitkin County Library | 5:00 p.m.
Join us in celebrating the winning title of the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize! Swing by our community book distribution party at the Pitkin County Library to pick up a free copy of “Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange and enjoy complimentary refreshments and snacks.
Register Here

Special Lit Lounge Book Club: Aspen Words Literary Prize Celebration
2025-08-19 17:00 - 18:00
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 5:00–6:00 PM | Pitkin County Library
Join us for a special edition of The Lit Lounge as we celebrate the winner of the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize! This month, we’re spotlighting “Wandering Stars“ by Tommy Orange—a remarkable and unforgettable novel exploring the Native American experience across generations.
RSVP Here
About the novel:
Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion prison castle, where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity by Richard Henry Pratt, an evangelical prison guard who will go on to found the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution dedicated to the eradication of Native history, culture and identity. A generation later, Star’s son, Charles, is sent to the school, where he is brutalized by the man who was once his father’s jailer. Under Pratt’s harsh treatment, Charles clings to moments he shares with a young fellow student, Opal Viola, as the two envision a future away from the institutional violence that follows their bloodlines. In a novel that is by turns shattering and wondrous, Tommy Orange has conjured the ancestors of the family readers first fell in love with in There There—warriors, drunks, outlaws, addicts— asking what it means to be the children and grandchildren of massacre. Wandering Stars is a novel about epigenetic and generational trauma that has the force and vision of a modern epic, an exceptionally powerful new book from one of the most exciting writers at work today and soaring confirmation of Tommy Orange’s monumental gifts.
Come together with fellow readers for an engaging discussion of this remarkable book, and enjoy light refreshments as we reflect on its themes and celebrate the community it brings together.
Let’s honor these powerful stories—and each other.

AWN August Meeting: Craft Workshop
2025-08-21 18:30 - 20:30
Thursday, August 21 at Bonfire Coffee from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
BECOME A MEMBER
Award-winning author Daryl Gregory will be in person to talk about surviving the ups and downs of publishing.

AWN September Meeting– Flex Your Creativity & Expand Your Skill + A Free Journal
2025-09-18 18:30 - 20:30
September AWN Meeting – Flex Your Creativity & Expand Your Skill + A Free Journal
Third Thursday – September 18 at Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., Carbondale), 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Writing prompts are a fantastic way to expand your creativity, explore new genres, and find your unique voice. So, whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or just dipping your toes into the world of writing, come expand your artistic chops. Sharing is optional.
All attendees will receive a free journal! It’s bright red and full of blank pages to inspire you!
BECOME A MEMBER

Aspen Filmfest Presents: The Librarians
2025-09-19 17:00 - 19:00
Aspen Words is proud to partner with Aspen Filmfest 2025 to present a special screening of The Librarians, directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Kim A. Snyder. This powerful new documentary follows librarians across the U.S. as they stand up against unprecedented waves of book bans, fighting to protect intellectual freedom and access to knowledge.
Friday, September 19, 5:00 p.m.Aspen Film Isis TheaterQ+A with the director to follow
Purchase tickets here
For questions, please contact admin@aspenfilm.org
The Librarians
Logline:As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy.
Synopsis:Librarians unite to combat book banning, defending intellectual freedom on democracy’s frontlines amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond. Directed by Oscar®-nominated and Peabody Award–winning filmmaker Kim A. Snyder, The Librarians sheds light on the resilience and courage of those fighting to keep books accessible to all.

Homegrown Stories – A Celebration of Aspen's Local Literary Voices
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:30
Local Authors Night at Explore Booksellers
Kick off the Aspen Literary Festival with an evening dedicated to Aspen’s own writers. From fiction to memoir, discover the voices shaping stories right here at home.
Featuring authors: Scott Lasser, Cathy O’Connell, T.A. Stevens, Lorenzo Semple, Jill Sheeley, Mark Tompkins, and Nathanial White.
Explore Booksellers — 221 E Main St, Aspen, CO6:00–7:30 pm
Free and open to all!
Learn more about the Aspen Literary Festival at AspenLiteraryFestival.org

Aspen Literary Festival Presented by Book of the Month
2025-09-26 08:00 - 2025-09-28 17:00
Celebrate the books and people who drive culture.

Taking place Friday, September 26 – Sunday, September 28, 2025 in downtown Aspen, Colorado.
Aspen Words, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, will welcome more than 40 nationally recognized, regional and local authors to downtown Aspen, CO for engaging conversations, book signings and other literary activities.
Open to the public, the festival, presented in partnership with Book of the Month, will include an onsite bookstore, art activations, food trucks, parties and other public programming for adults and families alike.
Learn more about the festival at AspenLiteraryFestival.org

Aspen Literary Festival After Hours: Downtown Aspen Block Party
2025-09-26 18:30 - 22:00
September 26, 2025

6:30 PM-10:00 PMMT

Perks & Parties
Hyman Ave. & Mill St.

Local authors will give readings and sign books at local businesses. Aspen Public House and Stranahan’s Whiskey will provide drink specials for festival-goers who show their wristband or badge. Aspen Collective and D’Angelico Guitar Shop will provide an open bar for festival-goers during local author readings.
Participating local businesses
Aspen Collective Gallery | 213 S. Mill St
Hosted by artist, author, and publisher D.J. Watkins, the gallery will transform into a lively party space featuring live music, a bar, and book displays. D.J., known for his work on Hunter S. Thompson and the Freak Power movement, will showcase his art and books and welcome other authors to display and sign their work.
D’Angelico Guitar Shop | 240 S. Mill St
Local musician Garland Burton, who regularly headlines venues like Belly Up and Snowmass concerts, will set the vibe with live music inside and outside the shop. Garland will also host a bar and create space for local authors to sign and share their books—blending music and literature in one of Aspen’s most unique spaces.
Aspen Public House | 328 E. Hyman Ave
Located inside the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen Public House is offering festival drink specials all weekend for wristband and ticket holders. The venue is also opening its doors to local authors for book displays, signings and casual meet-and-greets.
Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge | 307 S. Mill St
Stranahan’s will debut a specialty literary cocktail alongside food and drink specials all weekend. On Friday night, local DJ Alex Brough will spin vinyl records as part of the Block Party. The Whiskey Lodge will also host author displays and signings, creating another lively hub for festival-goers.
Learn more about the Aspen Literary Festival at AspenLiteraryFestival.org
ALF block party

AWN October Meeting - Annual Halloween meeting
2025-10-16 18:30 - 20:30
October 16 – Annual Halloween meeting. Patrick Kitson will be conducting a talk on: How to build more tension in your writing.
Patrick has been a lifelong student of the macabre, the satirical, and the intellectually dubious. Born and raised in the Roaring Fork Valley, he coined the term “Valley Horror” in reference to his particular brand of homebrewed speculative fiction, which largely takes place in and around the snowy climes of Colorado. He has published three short story collections and has a novel coming out soon.
BECOME A MEMBER

Youth Poetry Project 2025
2025-10-20 10:00 - 2025-11-21 17:00
Teaching Artists in RFV middle schools for week-long intensives
Oct.-Nov., 2025
This fall, Aspen Words is thrilled to once again partner with the Aspen Education Foundation to bring renowned teaching artists and performance poets into Aspen middle school classrooms.
For the fourth year in a row, professional poets will lead a week-long poetry intensive in every English Language Arts classroom at Aspen, inspiring students to explore creativity, self-expression, and the power of language.
The poets will also return to the classrooms at Carbondale and Basalt middle schools. 2025 is the third year working with students in Basalt and the second year returning to Carbondale.
The Aspen Words youth poetry project will encompass three weeks of in-classroom instruction – one at each school – and a Student Showcase hosted by Basalt middle school where students from all three schools will perform their original work.
The 2025 Poetry Project

Aspen Middle School: October 20–24

Carbondale Middle School: November 10–14

Basalt Middle School: November 17–21

Student Showcase: November 20

Learn more and support the Youth Poetry Project here

FALL WRITING WORKSHOP WITH PETER MOUNTFORD
2025-11-02 10:00 - 15:00
JOIN US FOR AN ALL-DAY FALL WRITING WORKSHOP WITH PETER MOUNTFORD
MAKING MEANING IN YOUR PERSONAL ESSAY
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 10AM to 3PM
Pitkin County Library
120 N Mill St, Aspen, CO 81611
REGISTER HERE
This all-day workshop with award-winning novelist and essayist Peter Mountford runs 10 AM–3 PM, with a lunch break from 12–1 PM.
Attendees will learn the most difficult and important skill in personal essay writing: how to make your personal story relevant to a perfect stranger. Hilary Mantel, on the difficulty of writing about oneself, said: “If other people are to care about your life, art must intervene.”
“Aboutness” is fundamental to a successful essay, yet both literary and general-publication editors frequently complain of receiving writers’ essays that don’t seem to be “about” anything. In this workshop, attendees will figure out how to select a topic, then focus and refine an essay to arc toward theme and meaning.
In the morning, the workshop will focus on choosing an essay’s seeds. These ideas should be inherently engaging from a story standpoint but also contain focused opportunities for rich thematic meaning. We will generate new writing for a few topics. Attendees will assess different ideas and talk about what each might offer in terms of story and meaning.
In the afternoon, the workshop will focus on developing one or two ideas further into a publishable work that appeals to readers. Specifically, we’ll work toward making meaning—how to write/revise toward your essay’s “aboutness.” Attendees will learn how there are several different approaches for seeking and demonstrating meaning, as we work through ideas generated in class. We’ll also learn secrets to successful essay structure.
Come prepared to brainstorm new essay ideas, bring ones you’ve been mulling over, or essays you’ve written that just aren’t working. Attendees will look at examples of how other authors have done this, including Melissa Febos, and Leslie Jamison. We will look at the first draft vs the published draft of the instructor’s Modern Love essay.
About the Instructor:

Peter Mountford is the author of A Young Man’s Guide to Late Capitalism (winner of the Washington State Book Award) and The Dismal Science (a New York Times Editor’s Choice), as well as the short story collection Detonator. His essays and fiction have appeared in The New York Times (Modern Love), The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Sun, and more. He teaches at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe’s MFA program and through Mountford Writing.

Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist Announced November 13
2025-11-13 10:00 - 17:00
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

Youth Poetry Project Showcase 2025
2025-11-20 18:00 - 2025-11-21 19:30
Students from Aspen, Basalt, and Carbondale Middle Schools will share original work at the Student Showcase at Basalt Middle School on Thursday, November 20 from 6-7:15 p.m. These pieces were created during week-long poetry intensives led by professional teaching artists and slam poets.
During the showcase, students will be accompanied onstage by their instructors and the professional poets who helped bring their words to life.
This event is free and open to students, friends, and family.
Register or donate to support the Youth Poetry Project Showcase here

AWN November Meeting
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:30
November 20 – Lucinda Halpern will be conducting a talk on: Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author.
Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent and the founder of Lucinda Literary, based in New York. She has worked with all major publishers, including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Hachette, and Scholastic, and currently represents New York Times and internationally best-selling authors in the categories of business, personal growth, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction.
Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide, and became the inspiration for her new book Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (Hay House; February 6th, 2024).
BECOME A MEMBER

Launching the Line Up and Tickets for the Winter Words Speaker Series 2026
2025-12-02 10:00 - 19:00
On December 2, Aspen Words will release the official Winter Words 2026 lineup and tickets for the Winter Words Speaker Series. Tickets will be available to purchase online starting December 2.
Join us in person at the Red Brick on December 4 from 5–7 p.m. to purchase tickets.
Save the Dates!

Wednesday, January 28 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11 | TACAW | 6–7 p.m.

The Winter Words 2026 speaker series brings celebrated writers to Aspen for moderated discussions about their work, creative process, and the stories that shape our world.
Aspen Words looks forward to sharing this memorable literary experience with you!

Winter Words Speaker Series Tickets for Sale In-Person
2025-12-04 17:00 - 19:00
On December 4, Aspen Words will be selling tickets for the Winter Words Speaker Series in person at the Red Brick Center for the Arts from 5–7 p.m.
Red Brick Center for the Arts110 E Hallam StreetAspen, CO 81611Tickets will be available at the Aspen Words office, Suite #109.
Tickets will also be available to purchase online starting December 2.
Save the Dates!

Wednesday, January 28 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11 | TACAW | 6–7 p.m.

The Winter Words 2026 speaker series brings celebrated writers to Aspen for moderated discussions about their work, creative process, and the stories that shape our world.
Aspen Words looks forward to sharing this memorable literary experience with you!

AWN Holiday Party
2025-12-18 18:30 - 20:30
December 18 – Holiday party and book exchange
Join us for a festive and fun gathering! Choose a beloved book from your shelf to share with other members, or support a local business by visiting Alpenglow Books in Glenwood Springs (a new store!), White River Books in Carbondale, or Explore Booksellers in Aspen to purchase one. Dedicate the book with your most valuable piece of writing advice, and wrap it up to share at the exchange. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share quotes or sayings that inspired and encouraged them on their writer’s journey.
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Winter Words with Susan Orlean
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Paepcke Auditorium, 1000 N 3rd St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Bestselling author and beloved New Yorker writer Susan Orlean will discuss “Joyride,” a magic carpet ride through her life and career. The book is also a time machine to a bygone era of journalism, from Orlean’s bright start in the golden age of alt-weeklies to her career-making days working alongside icons such as Tina Brown, David Remnick, Anna Wintour and other forces who shaped the media industry as we know it today. “Joyride” is a must-read for anyone who hungers to start, build and sustain a creative life. Orlean inspires us to seek out daily inspiration and rediscover the marvels that surround us.
Moderated by Christine Benedetti
About the Author

Susan Orlean is the New York Times bestselling author of “Joyride,” “The Library Book,” “Rin Tin Tin,” “Saturday Night,” “The Orchid Thief,” which was made into the Academy Award–winning film “Adaptation,” and other books. She has been called “a national treasure” by TheWashington Post and “a latter-day Tocqueville” by The New York Times. Her deeply moving explorations of American stories both familiar and obscure have earned her a reputation as one of America’s most distinctive journalistic voices. A staff writer for The New Yorker for over 30 years and a former contributing editor at Rolling Stone and Vogue, she has been praised as “an exceptional essayist” (Publishers Weekly) and a writerwho “approaches her subjects with intense curiosity and fairness” (Bookmarks).

Winter Words with Lily King
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Paepcke Auditorium, 1000 N 3rd St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Join acclaimed author Lily King (“Writers & Lovers,” “Euphoria”) as she discusses her latest novel, “Heart the Lover,” an instant New York Times bestseller. Written with the superb wit and emotional sensitivity fans of King have come to adore, “Heart the Lover” is a deeply moving story that celebrates love, friendship and the transformative nature of forgiveness. The novel is King at her very best, affirming her as an astute chronicler of the human experience and one of the finest novelists at work today.
Moderated by Mitzi Rapkin
About the Author

Lily King is the award-winning author of six novels, including most recently, “Heart the Lover.” She has also published a collection of short stories, “Five Tuesdays in Winter.” Her 2020 novel, “Writers & Lovers,” won the New England Society Book Awards and was a New York Times Notable Book and chosen as a top-10 best book of 2020 by The Washington Post, NPR, People Magazine and The Los Angeles Times. Her 2014 novel, “Euphoria,” won the Kirkus Award, the New England Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award. “Euphoria” was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2014 by The New York Times Book Review. It was included in TIME’s Top 10 Fiction Books of 2014, as well as on Amazon, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly and Salon’s Best Books of 2014.

Winter Words with Tara Roberts
2026-02-11 18:00 - 19:00 | TACAW, 400 Robinson St., Basalt, CO, 81621
Adventurer and storyteller Tara Roberts will discuss her searing memoir, “Written in the Waters,” which recounts her epic journey to trace the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean. Roberts, a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, spent years diving with and telling stories about a group of Black scuba divers searching for slave shipwrecks around the world. For fans of Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Men We Reaped,” Roberts’ memoir is a powerful blend of personal and cultural history.

About the Author

Tara Roberts follows, dives with and tells stories about Black scuba divers as they search for and help document slave shipwrecks around the world. Her journey was turned into an award-winning National Geographic-produced podcast called “Into the Depths.” Tara became the first Black female explorer ever to be featured on the cover of the magazine and was named the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year. Currently, Tara is an Explorer in Residence at Nat Geo. She is the author of “Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home and Belonging.” Tara is also a former magazine editor and indie publisher, a nonprofit communications director and editor of several nonfiction books for girls. She calls Atlanta home but loves to hit the road. Her motto is: have suitcase, will travel.

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting: Integrating Romance Into Your Story of Any Genre – By Elizabeth Boyle
2026-02-19 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting: Integrating Romance Into Your Story of Any Genre – By Elizabeth Boyle
February 19 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Including romance in your story without it feeling forced or sounding clunky can seem difficult and even terrifying for non-romance writers. During the next AWN meeting, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle will share guidance on this complex issue. Come learn how to make your romance elements both natural and compelling.
Elizabeth Boyle is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 25 novels, as well as a respected writing teacher. Her debut novel, “Brazen Angel”, won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA® award. Romance Times gave their coveted Reviewer’s Choice award to “No Marriage of Convenience”, “Mad About the Duke”, and “The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane”. “Stealing the Bride” and “Love Letters from a Duke” have made Booklist’s annual Top Ten Romance lists. https://elizabethboyle.com/
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
March 19 and April 16

Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Adam Gopnik’s Talk Therapy
2026-02-28 18:30 - 19:30
Theater Aspen presents: Adam Gopnik’s Talk Therapy
Saturday, February 28, 6:30pm | Paepcke Auditorium
An Evening with Adam Gopnik You Didn’t Know You Needed

Best known as an acclaimed writer for The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik has spent more than three decades crafting essays, memoirs, and cultural criticism. The bestselling author of Paris to the Moon and The Real Work, Gopnik now turns his sharp eye and signature wit to the stage.
Join us for an intimate, one-night-only performance of his brand-new one-man show, Talk Therapy.
In this revealing and deeply personal piece, Gopnik reflects on his early years as a young writer finding his footing in the wilds of New York City—and the mentors, friendships, and formative encounters that shaped his path.

Tickets
Standard Seating: $65
Premium Seating (Assigned) – $95
includes premium assigned seating in Paepcke Auditorium
Run Time for each performance is 70 minutes. Doors: 6:00pm | Show 6:30pm
Online sales end 5:00pm day of performance, tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
Purchase tickets and learn more here!

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Member Readings with Optional Feedback | June 18
2026-03-04 08:00 - 17:00
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Member Readings with Optional Feedback
One of the more important Meetings in our schedule – it provides the opportunity for you to support your fellow writers and/or be supported. Audience feedback on your reading is optional.
April 16 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
July 16 | Summer Soiree
