Southwest Festival of the Written Word


The Southwest Festival of the Written Word is a biennial book festival held in Silver City, New Mexico, USA. The festival was the brainchild of several Silver City community members including poet Bonnie Buckley Maldonado, author Larry Godfrey, and journalist Jim Kelly. Its mission is to celebrate "the power and beauty of the written word, embracing the rich diversity of Southwestern cultures."
The festival, which takes place in late September/early October of odd-numbered years, includes themed readings, panel discussions, practical workshops, poetry slam performances, book signings, live drama and music, and children's activities. All genres of writing are represented. The first festival took place in 2013 in downtown Silver City venues, as well as at Western New Mexico University. All events are free and open to the public.
The festival weekend is the main focus, but the organizing committee also runs regular literary activities throughout the year, including writing workshops and readings, a Poet Laureate program, a regular radio program, and school visits by authors.
Participating authors include several internationally-known figures such as Mark Medoff, Juan Felipe Herrera, Ana Castillo, and Denise Chávez, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Don Bartletti.