2005 COLORADO BOOK AWARD WINNER KENT HARUF RETURNS TO ASPEN
The Aspen Writers' Foundation Presents Its Fifth Chapter of Winter Words

(February 21, 2006) Aspen, CO … National Book Award finalist Kent Haruf will make an encore appearance with the Aspen Writers' Foundation on Saturday, March 4th. He is one of six bestselling and award-winning writers to participate in Winter Words 2006, the 9th annual series of readings and talks with notable authors. Haruf will give a reading and talk at 5:30 pm at the Given Institute.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Haruf's first guest appearance with the Aspen Writers' Foundation was in 2000, when he gave the keynote address at the Aspen Summer Words Literary Festival. The Colorado native returns to Aspen with Eventide, the bestselling sequel to his novel Plainsong. Eventide won the 2005 Colorado Book Award and has been named a Best Book of the Year by eight national newspapers and magazines. The Christian Science Monitor called it "An extraordinary vision," asking, "Who in America can still write like this? Who else has such confidence and such humility?"

The novel continues the story of the McPheron brothers, Victoria Roubideaux and the other residents of the imaginary community of Holt, set — like each of his novels — in the high plains of Colorado. While the backdrop is small-town, the tale is universal, unveiling genuine truths about human beings: their fragility and resilience, their selfishness and goodness, and their ability to find family in one another. As in all his books, Haruf reveals that family can take shape out of the most unlikely of pairings and that even these unorthodox relationships can have the power to heal.

Haruf's quiet, yet profound storytelling resonates widely with his readers. His novels are a favorite of book clubs, including 15 one-city, one-book programs across the United States that selected Plainsong as their read of choice.

Haruf's previous novels include The Tie That Binds and Where You Once Belonged. He is a former high school English teacher and Peace Corps volunteer. He lives in Salida, Colorado, with his wife Cathy.

DETAILS
Winter Words events start at 5:30 pm; doors open at 5 pm. The author will give a reading and talk, followed by a short Q&A session and a book signing. Town Center Booksellers, the official bookseller of Winter Words 2006, will have a selection of books by the author available for purchase at the event.

TICKETS
Tickets are $20 each/$15 for students and educators with school ID. Tickets are available at the Wheeler Opera House (970.920.5770), at the Aspen Writers' Foundation's new online box office at www.aspenwriters.org, and on a space-available basis at the door. Discounted tickets for educators and students are available only through the Aspen Writers' Foundation.

THE ASPEN WRITERS' FOUNDATION
Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Aspen Writers’ Foundation, Colorado's oldest nonprofit literary organization, has been bringing readers and writers together since 1976. The organization’s mission is to provide programs that encourage writers in their craft and readers in their appreciation of good literature. More information is available from the Aspen Writers' Foundation at 970.925.3122 and www.aspenwriters.org.

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