Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — When it comes to literature, there are a few communities to consider. There are the striving writers who immerse themselves in books for inspiration and guidance. There are the academics, picking through novels to form some literary opinion.

Then there are the plain lovers of books. To them, a night with a novel is the same as going to a movie or watching a favorite TV show.

Literary Sojourn in Steamboat Springs is for those people. Like Hollywood stars, the authors of their favorite books have a high status in the booklovers' lives, one that Sojourn organizer Leslie Ryan isn't afraid to admit to be similar to idolatry.

"It's very exciting," she said.

This week it was announced that five mainstream authors are coming to Steamboat Sept. 14. As always, they will give 40-minute presentations, then mingle among the crowd, making themselves available to the public.

Ryan said for booklovers, the day is like hanging out with a favorite musician or actor.

Literary Sojourn started 10 years ago after a group of women approached Bud Werner Memorial Library about organizing an event to bring writers to the area. In larger areas, book tours and lecture series featuring popular writers are common. But it's hard for some people in more isolated areas to make them.

Coupling the library with Off The Beaten Path Bookstore for support, the group organized the first Literary Sojourn to solve that problem.

"We never looked back," said Ryan, who was among the first organizers. "It's now pretty much a volunteer committee that works on it all year."

What they have created is a premiere event for authors and readers to come to.

"This event seemed like the Cannes of the book world," author Lorna Landvik was quoted as saying about Literary Sojourn.

This year is no different.

"We have an excellent lineup this year. Tremendous authors. We are astounded."