State Rep. Kris Steele announced Tuesday that the fourth biennial Red Dirt Book Festival will be held in Shawnee Nov. 6 and 7, at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center and on the campuses of Oklahoma Baptist University and St. Gregory’s University.
“This is a great way to encourage and promote literacy in the state, as well as engage in an enriching cultural event as a community,” Steele said. “I hope families will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”
The Red Dirt Book Festival has been a creative home in Oklahoma for nearly 1,500 readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, storytellers, scholars and performers since 2003.
Special events planned for the festival include a keynote address by author Billie Letts, best known for her New York Times bestseller, “Where the Heart Is”; a writing workshop for area high school students; appearances by Oklahoma personalities Galen Culver, Ron Stahl and Susan Miller; and a tea-and-scone reception followed by a guided tour of OBU’s Raley Chapel stained glass windows.
According to the American Institute for Research, 43 percent of Oklahoma adults need to improve their literacy skills in order to effectively search, comprehend and use information from written documents.
“By showcasing so many different areas — creative writing, storytelling, plays and illustration — I hope this festival will help more people see the importance of improving literacy skills,” Steele said.
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State Rep. Kris Steele announced Tuesday that the fourth biennial Red Dirt Book Festival will be held in Shawnee Nov. 6 and 7, at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center and on the campuses of Oklahoma Baptist University and St. Gregory’s University.
“This is a great way to encourage and promote literacy in the state, as well as engage in an enriching cultural event as a community,” Steele said. “I hope families will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”
The Red Dirt Book Festival has been a creative home in Oklahoma for nearly 1,500 readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, storytellers, scholars and performers since 2003.
Special events planned for the festival include a keynote address by author Billie Letts, best known for her New York Times bestseller, “Where the Heart Is”; a writing workshop for area high school students; appearances by Oklahoma personalities Galen Culver, Ron Stahl and Susan Miller; and a tea-and-scone reception followed by a guided tour of OBU’s Raley Chapel stained glass windows.
According to the American Institute for Research, 43 percent of Oklahoma adults need to improve their literacy skills in order to effectively search, comprehend and use information from written documents.
“By showcasing so many different areas — creative writing, storytelling, plays and illustration — I hope this festival will help more people see the importance of improving literacy skills,” Steele said.
