We’re furiously putting the final touches on this year’s schedule. We have so many compelling authors and books this year that we’re having to wedge them into very interesting combinations. We’ve got a dozen or so panels, too, with topics that are unlike anything we’ve staged before. We hope to have something posted online in the next week. Stay tuned…

Have you checked out the author list for this year’s Wordstock yet? If you haven’t, click on over there right now. It’s a fantastic group of talent that will be lighting up the stages at Wordstock this year, writing everything from mystery to graphic novels to literary fiction to memoir to fantasy to young adult novels to picture books to poetry to just about anything you’ve ever wanted to read. How’s that?

Yes, yes, we know — you’ve been waiting for some updated information on this year’s festival. Looking for a list of authors? Trying to find out about tickets? Venues? Sorry. We’ve been a little lax. But that’s because we’ve been spending our energy creating this new website, complete with a terrific way to display photos of the event, an integrated blog, and other cool stuff. You’re going to have a much easier time navigating this site.

Now it’s time to start posting more and more info about this year’s festival. Check back regularly for up to date info on the festival, our authors, our events, and more!

we are adding authors to the 2008 lineup way faster than i can post them here, but there is one author that i’m particularly excited about. aimee bender’s quirky short stories have a way of tricking you into complacency before smacking you upside the head with something so sad, funny and true you wonder how you never saw it coming. at least that’s what they do to me.

bender is no stranger to portland. for the past several years she’s led workshops at the tin house summer writing workshop, and will be part of the program again this july 13-20. if you don’t know about this cool event, in addition to the admissions-based weeklong intensive program, there are open-to-the-public seminars and readings for a nominal fee. it’s kind of like a mini-wordstock, right in the middle of summer, but really different. or something like that. anyway, if you’re reading this blog, then you should probably check it out.

she also features writing exercises on her website each month. totally sweet!

never read aimee bender? you can find a few of her stories online, but i suggest springing for the books because once you start, you won’t want to stop.

already a fan? how do her stories make you feel? let us know!

you heard right–legendary lit blogger mark sarvas will be part of wordstock 2008! if you’re an elegant variation devotee you are probably jumping up and down right now and not even planning to read the rest of this post. but you should, because there is more important information below.

if you’re not familiar with sarvas’ blog, you should check it out now. i mean right now. you should probably even subscribe. that is, if you’re at all interested in keeping up on intelligent commentary, reviews, and even giveaways for new books, plus news about the bookworld, links to interviews and literary journals, and more cool stuff related to books, books and books. oh, and if that’s not reason enough to like him, you have to appreciate the directive to “buy independent” and the big fat link to powells.com.

speaking of powells, sarvas will be at burnside tonight, reading from his first novel, harry, revised(bloomsbury). touted as “rueful,” “scathingly funny,” and “erudite and outrageous,” sarvas’ debut about a recent widower trying to reinvent himself (in part by chasing after a 22-year-old, what else?) promises to be a good read.

check him out and let us know what you think!