Over 30 local authors gathered in the Cascade Room of Casia Lodge for the grand opening of the Methow Valley Authors Library (MVAL), which houses a collection of books and journals from every author who has lived in, worked in, or wrote about the Methow Valley.
Methow Press Publisher Greg Wright got the idea in late 2022 while planning a poetry event at the Casia Lodge. He was stunned to find that the library didn’t have any… books. The previous owner took them with him. The timing coincided with Methow Press’ release of the Methow Author’s card game. Wright came up with a plan.
“If a person can get an adrenaline rush from the idea of books, I’m that guy. I pretty much improvised a pitch on the spot,” he recalls. “‘I’m pretty sure I can fill your shelves for you,’ I told them.”
For their part, Casia saw an avenue to develop literary tourism in the area. Together, they worked on the project for a year.
“The response has been phenomenal,” said Wright. The community donated or purchased over 200 volumes from 100 different writers working in or writing about the Methow Valley. Some of the books are out of print or have limited edition print runs. Methow Arts and The Confluence have helped with the acquisition of hard-to-find titles, as well as a complete collection of The Methow Naturalist, published quarterly by Dana Visalli.
The project has been a learning experience for Wright. Before embarking on the project, he was aware of about 60 authors in the Methow. Over the past year working on the project, he has learned about 140 more. Genres include poetry, fiction, nonfiction, history, biology, politics, photography, and art.
The MVAL will be continuously open to guests staying at Casia Lodge, but it will also be open to the public at certain hours. Contact Casia Lodge at 509-416-5463 for more details.
All pictures courtesy of Greg Wright, publisher of Methow Press.
Poet Joanne Thomas reads at the MVAL opening. 
Primitive skills expert Lynx Vilden reads at the MVAL opening. 
Journalist and editor Andy Roth reads at the MVAL opening. 
Sarah Conover reads from her memoir at the MVAL opening. 
Novelist Peter Serko reads at the MVAL opening. 
Poet Christine Kendall reads at the MVAL opening. 
Novelist Nick Hershenow reads at the MVAL opening. 
Naturalist Dana Visali reads at MVAL opening. 
Filmmaker and writer Leslee Goodman and novelist Philip Marks in the Cascade Room. 
Filmmaker and writer Leslee Goodman reads at MVAL opening. 
Novelist Philip Marks reads at the MVAL opening. 
Poet Martha Flores reads at MVAL opening. 
Holocaust scholar John K. Roth and Poet Joanne Thomas visit with fans in the Cascade Room. 
Audience members listen from the library landing. 
Holocaust scholar John K. Roth reads at the MVAL opening. 
Poet Sam Owen reads at the MVAL opening. 
Dan Nobacon reads at the MVAL opening.