Cannon Beach festival invites readers to ‘Get Lit’
Published 9:00 am Friday, April 11, 2025
Joe Wilkins has written four books of poetry, including “Thieve” and “When We Were Birds,” winner of the Oregon Book Award, and several novels and memoirs. (Alexis Bonogofsky)
Rene Denfeld is the bestselling author of four novels, inspired by her work as a criminal investigator. Her forthcoming book is “Sleeping Giants.” (Brian McDonnell)
Pauls Toutonghi’s four books have been translated into Portuguese, Italian, German and Latvian. He also teaches at Lewis & Clark College. (K.B. Dixon)
Five authors with ties to the Pacific Northwest will be in Cannon Beach this weekend for a festival that invites readers into the fold of a collaborative forum about the literary arts.
Get Lit at the Beach pulls back the curtain on creative literary minds, prompting them to share stories behind popular novels and insight into the writing process. The festival is in town between April 11 and April 13, with back-to-back events.
“It’s three days of opportunities to sit, talk and meet with the authors and people who love writing,” Tracy Abel, organizer of the annual festival, said.
At past events, writers have shared lived experiences reflected in their work and turned the role of author from a sense of telling to one of interacting.
The festival began 12 years ago, and has since attracted authors who dabble in a variety of genres, Abel said. Pauls Toutonghi, Rene Denfeld, Terry Brooks, Joe Wilkins and Shawn Speakman are featured this year.
Denfeld, who is based in Portland, writes novels that are inspired by her work in the criminal justice system, handling hundreds of cases and advocating for social justice issues. She’ll give this year’s festival keynote presentation on the evening of April 12.
“Our event is always different because there isn’t a strict formula for writers to follow in their talks, they get to go where the questions lead them and share experiences,” Abel said.
Past novels from Denfeld, including “Butterfly Girl” and “Sleeping Giants,” explore the themes of child abuse and missing children.
Toutonghi authored “The Refugee Ocean” in 2023. It’s a work of fiction, but Toutonghi’s parents were refugees to the U.S., so it’s a reflection of the author’s experiences, Abel said.
Toutonghi, an English professor at Lewis & Clark College, has written for The New York Times, Outside Magazine, The New Yorker, Granta and other publications. He will give the last of three afternoon presentations April 12 at the Surfsand Resort.
The weekend starts with a reception at the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. April 11. It’s a chance for guests to get introduced to the authors and enjoy light refreshments.
“It’s such an intimate setting that you get to know each author on a personal basis,” Abel said.
This is how Get Lit deviates from traditional book signings. People get to actually spend time with the authors and don’t have to wait in long lines for a quick signature and minute or two of face time, Abel said.
Also that evening, The Wine Shack is hosting a 6:30 p.m. talk with Kerry Newberry, a Portland author who brings people’s stories to life through tales about food and travel.
Abel said it’s the first year the festival is hosting a cookbook author, and Newberry’s book is special because she recommends Oregon winery pairings with each recipe.
“It’s a beautiful book,” Abel said.
Book signings and author conversations run all day April 12 at the Surfsand Resort ballroom, followed by Denfeld’s talk in the evening. The weekend concludes with a free Q&A session at 10 a.m. April 13 at the Coaster Theatre, with coffee and treats from Jupiter’s Books.
Get Lit at the Beach
April 11 to April 13 in Cannon Beach.
Weekend passes are $120. Tickets for Saturday’s dinner and keynote speech are $80. Free Q&A with authors at the Coaster Theatre, 108 Hemlock St., at 10 a.m. April 13.
