Poet Laureate featured at writing festival

The Raymond Carver Writing Festival (RCWF), will be held Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20, in Clatskanie, Oregon where the world-renowned poet and short story writer was born 85 years ago.

Centered at the Clatskanie Cultural Center (CCC), 75 S. Nehalem Street, the RCWF’s guest of honor will be Anis Mojgani, Oregon’s Poet Laureate. He will read poetry during Friday’s evening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. in the CCC ballroom.

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with RCWF presenters and purchase their books. Refreshments will be served. Posters and shirts will be available for sale along with a small selection of Raymond Carver books.

Saturday morning, Mojgani will speak on “Collaboration with oneself - between the finding and the creating” from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the ballroom.

With one exception, all RCWF events are free and open to the public. A dinner on Saturday, May 20, is open to the public, but there is a $20 charge. Reservations may be made at http://www.raymondcarverwritingfestival.org.

The festival will begin Friday, May 19, with “Parking Lot Poetry” in the Safeway parking lot alongside Highway 30 in Clatskanie.

“Short Cuts,” a movie based on Carver’s works, will be shown beginning at 2 p.m. in the Birkenfeld Theatre at the CCC. There is no charge for admission to the movie, and free popcorn will be available. “Short Cuts” is rated R.