SALIDA — Registration deadline is Sept. 1 for the first Kent Haruf Literary Celebration, to be held September 22-24 at the SteamPlant Event Center in Salida. The event honors the charismatic, award-winning novelist who made his home in Salida until his death in 2014. 

Haruf’s novels include Plainsong, a National Book Award finalist; Eventide, Benediction, The Tie That Binds, Where You Once Belonged, and most recently Our Souls at Night, published in 2015. Our Souls at Night has been produced as a film starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, and will be released on Thanksgiving Day. 

The Kent Haruf Literary Celebration will open with a breakfast buffet and welcoming remarks by Chris Outcalt, journalist, former editor of Denver’s 5280 Magazine, and author of “The Precious Ordinary,” a story about the life of Kent Haruf that was named top city magazine profile of 2015.

Morning and afternoon sessions will offer informative presentations and discussions of central themes, characters and relationships in Haruf’s novels; his distinctive style and method of crafting his works; and the geography and culture of Colorado so central to his stories.

Among presenters are BK Loren, award-winning fiction and essay author, who will lead a creative writing session emphasizing Haruf’s treatment of place; Sue Hodson, Curator of Literary Manuscripts at the Huntington Library in San Marino CA where Haruf’s archives are located; Carol Samson, PhD, Professor Emerita at the University of Denver, who will direct the Chalk Horse Theater Company presentation of harufspeak: An Adaptation of Selected Writings of Kent Haruf; Greg Schwipps, Professor of Creative Writing at DePauw University and former student of Haruf; and Q&A conversations with spouse Cathy Haruf, literary manager of Haruf’s works. A unique highlight of the event will be the first-ever “flash mob” reading of a selected Haruf book passage.

Haruf’s works have received many honors, including the Wallace Stegner Award, the Colorado Lifetime Achievement Award, Whiting Award, a New York Times Notable Book Award, the Mountains and plains Booksellers Award for Fiction, and the Spirit of the West Book Award.

Cost for the entire event, including theatrical presentation, is $100 per person. Registration closes September 1; and early enrollment is strongly advised, as space is limited. Chalk Horse Theater tickets, if any remain available, will go on sale to the general public on September 2. For registration information and complete details--including programs and lodging--visit honorkentharuf.org/literary-celebration.