First Annual Mother Lode Book Festival at
Native Sons Hall in Murphys, CA
May 3, 2025, 8:45 am- 5 pm
Hosted by Manzanita Writers Press, with Calaveras Writers & the Sonora Writers Group
FREE EVENTS – 12 -5 pm
Author signings and sales of regional books
Creative Journaling in the hall
Workshop Schedule – a pre-registered, pre-paid event through 2 pm – at the door signups, $45.00.
8:00-8:45 am – register and check-in – coffee klatch time with mingling and schmoozing/networking
8:45 – Hall – introductions –
9:00-10:00 am – Historical Fiction writing – Katie Stine – Main hall –
10-11 am – Preparing your manuscript for publication – Joyce Dedini and Monika Rose– Main Hall
11-12 – YouTube for authors and podcasting – Sarah Lunsford is rescheduling for a later date due to a family emergency – Main Hall (substituting for Sarah will be Stephen Archer on the topic of audiobooks and marketing)
11-12 – Poetry Workshop with Linda Toren and Gary Thomas –Serendipity next door
12 pm – 1 pm – Lunch on your own
1-2 pm – Children’s Book writing workshop at Serendipity – Kristin Fulton, Monika Rose, Kathy Boyd Fellure, and Michele Rugo
1-2 pm – Developing a stage presence for authors and speakers- at Murphys Creek Theatre with Michael Summers, professional speaker
2 pm – Creative Journaling – with Conrad Levasseur in the hall – free to the public – all day arts creativity station
1-4 pm – Author signings and book sales by Authors at tables in the hall – free entrance for the public
4-5 pm – Author readings at the mic – one page teasers from the first page of your book
What to do afterward?
- 5 pm – Dinner on your own – find author friends and plan an outing in downtown Murphys – wine tasting and dinner at several excellent restaurants! Murphys Hotel, Allegorie, Grounds, Bistro, V, and so many more!
- 7:30 pm – The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams – showtime at Murphys Creek Theatre around the corner – reserve your tickets ahead of time
Sponsors:
Manzanita Writers Press
Murphys Creek Theatre
Serendipity
Murphys Business Association
Sonora Writers Group
Tuolumne Arts Council
KAAD Community Radio in Sonora
CCTV Community Television in Calaveras
Calaveras Chamber of Commerce
Volunteer Center of Calaveras County
Friends of Manzanita and the Mother Lode Book Festival
Raven’s Basket – Angels Camp
Momo’s Brand-Used Thriftique – San Andreas
Amador Arts Council
California Big Trees Association
Calaveras Visitors Bureau
Ironstone Vineyards
Murphys Hotel
Calaveras County Arts Council
Writing Down the Big Trees – Free Event on Sunday!
Sunday, May 4 – 10 am – 5 pm at Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Education Room near the Visitor Center
Poets, writers, journaling fans, and artists will gather on Sunday, May 4, at Calaveras Big Trees State Park in the North Grove to write about and/or sketch/paint/take photos of at least one of the giant Sequoias of choice for inclusion in a creative anthology for a Fall/Winter 2025 release.
9:30 am Check-in – Education room across from the Visitors Center – available to participants throughout the day.
10:00 Slide show and docent presentation in the education room with Jim and Joan Allday, docents and Big Trees board members, focusing on some of the more notable trees and stories with key information about the grove and its trees. Take notes.
11:00 Nitya Prema will offer a presentation on forest bathing and then lead a group on the North Grove Trail after the slide show.
11:30 – Walk down to the trail – Forest bathing workshop, if desired, on the Five Senses trail. Writers and artists walk down to the North Grove Trail and select the tree or trees that will become the subject of their writing and/or art. You can choose to participate in the forest bathing or explore on your own.
1:00 – lunch on your own and writing time – if the weather is too chilly or rainy, you are welcome to come write in the education room for as long as you’d like
3 pm – Sharing of writing from the day – participants can choose to share their work
Bring a lunch, snacks, water, and creative materials. Also bring a folding chair or something to sit on. Benches are limited and not located at every tree. Prepare for any inclement weather. This is a rain-or-shine event. It may be cold, and it may rain, so come prepared and layer your clothing. Check the weather for Big Trees on Sunday. It’s at 5,000 ft. elevation. There is an entrance fee to the park that is assessed per car ($10 and $9 for seniors). The education room across from the Visitors Center will open at 9:30 am. and there will be hot coffee/tea, morning snacks, and water available.
Contact Monika Rose, Calaveras County Poet Laureate, at manzanitawp@gmail.com