Oregon State Fair Authors Table

65 Oregon Authors to Appear at State Fair in 2023

By William L. Sullivan

With a record 65 Oregon authors appearing at the State Fair in Salem from August 25 to September 4, this year there’s something for everyone to read –literally.

For a sampling, check out the following selection of six local authors – all of them new to the fair this year, and all of them with books that have been released recently.

Arlene Sachitano worked for 30 years in the electronics industry, but she also learned to knit, quilt, and write cozy murder mysteries. Now she lives alternately at homes in Portland and Tillamook. The 13 books in her popular “Loose Threads” series, including “Quilt By Association,” reassuringly intersperse dead bodies with tea and scones. New this year is “Louie’s Knit Shop,” where a stranger turns up dead in Portland with a knitting needle in his ear. Sachitano will be at the fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 2.

Born in Chicago and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Kesha Ajose-Fisher now lives in Oregon with her family. Her short story collection, "No God Like the Mother," won the Oregon Book Award for fiction. Set in Nigeria, Paris, and Oregon, the stories focus on the lives of women who have been “tasked with holding up the sky.” She’ll be at the fair from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 2.

Curtis W. Condon of Forest Grove won a coveted Western Writers of America award this year for “Wish Upon a Crawdad,” a moving children’s novel (ages 9-12) set at the end of the Great Depression. A 12-year-old tomboy in the fictional rural town of Crossroads, Oregon, earns pocket change by catching crawdads – but also believes that wishing on a crawdad can help her achieve a “secret surprise.” Condon will be autographing his book from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 26.

Eugene author and University of Oregon writing instructor Lauren Kessler is famed for her works of narrative nonfiction and biography – for example, “Stubborn Twig,” an Oregon Reads selection about the internment of Japanese Oregonians in World War II. Her latest book, “Free”, won the Oregon Book Award for nonfiction this year. It tells the stories of six formerly incarcerated people who return home, a subject Kessler hit upon while teaching writing in Oregon prisons. She’ll be at the fair from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on August 27.

For a dozen years Dorcas Smucker wrote a popular column in the Eugene Register-Guard about life on her Harrisburg farm. This year she published a collection of heart-warming, commonsense essays based on those articles, "Coming Home to Roost: A Mennonite Mom Reflects on Life Choices, Adult Children, and Country Living.” Smucker will be at the fair from 12 noon to 6 p.m. on both Saturday, August 26 and Thursday, August 31.

What’s the true story behind Bayocean, the city on the Tillamook Bay spit that fell into the sea? Jerry Sutherland of Portland reveals all in his new nonfiction book, “Bayocean: Atlantis of Oregon.” He’ll attend the fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 26, and again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 3.

The Oregon Authors Table is located in Columbia Hall, between the fair’s quilts and cakes. Unlike those exhibits, however, the authors take turns, so only a dozen authors are on hand at a time. For a complete schedule of the 65 authors and their booksigning times, see the list below, or check https://www.oregonhiking.com/william-l-sullivan/oregon-state-fair .

Friday, August 25

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical fiction)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (build-it projects)

10am-8pm, Jason Kilgore (fantasy, horror)

10am-8pm, Lisa Lowell (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Solber Martinez (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

12noon-4pm, Cheryl Smith (mystery, goats)

2-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

4-8pm, Gary Cullen (historical novel)

Saturday, August 26

10am-12noon, Katherine Munson (fantasy)

10am-2pm, Jerry Sutherland (Oregon history)

10am-4pm, Dan Liberthson (spy novel, poetry)

10am-6pm, Pat Edwards (Oregon history)

10am-8pm, Dan Armstrong (novels)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (build-it projects)

10am-8pm, Jason Kilgore (fantasy, horror)

10am-8pm, Lisa Lowell (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

12noon-6pm, Dorcas Smucker (farm life)

4-8pm, Curtis Condon (children’s)

Sunday, August 27

10am-12noon, Lauren Kessler (biography, memoir)

10am-2pm, Paul Neville (novel)

10am-2pm, Kay Runyan (memoir)

10am-8pm, Dan Armstrong (novels)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (history, mystery)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (build-it projects)

10am-8pm, David Hascall (historical fiction)

10am-8pm, Caroline Holm (nature poetry)

10am-8pm, Jason Kilgore (fantasy, horror)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

12noon-4pm, Cheryl Smith (mystery, goats)

2-4pm, Eva Seyler (historical novels)

2-6pm, Deena Lindstedt (history, mystery)

4-8pm, Veronica Esagui (historical fiction, health)

4-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s books)

Monday, August 28

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical fiction)

10am-12noon, Paula Wart (children’s)

10am-6pm, Sarah Munro (Timberline Lodge)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (history, mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (build-it projects)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

4-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

Tuesday, August 29

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical fiction)

10am-2pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

10am-4pm, Jean Moule (essays, fiction)

10am-6pm, Sarah Munro (Timberline Lodge)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (history, mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

2-8pm, Mary Jo Nyssen (children’s)

4-8pm, James Ragon (historical fiction)

4-8pm, Tania Wall (Christian)

Wednesday, August 30

10am-2pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

10am-4pm, Tom Alkire (fishing)

10am-4pm, Tania Wall (Christian)

10am-6pm, A. Lynn Ash (adventure memoirs)

10am-6pm, Arlene Sachitano (quilt mysteries)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (history, mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Barry Craft (science fiction)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

2-8pm, Mary Jo Nyssen (children’s)

4-8pm, Doug Beisley (children’s)

4-8pm, James Ragon (historical fiction)

6-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

Thursday, August 31

10am-noon, Patsy Brookshire (history, mystery)

10am-2pm, Bob Crites (memoir)

10am-4pm, Valarie Anderson (WWII, early radio)

10am-4pm, Jean Moule (essays, fiction)

10am-6pm, Donna McFarland (children’s)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, Solber Martinez (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

12noon-6pm, Dorcas Smucker (farm life)

2-8pm, David Buzan (historical fiction)

2-8pm, Mary Jo Nyssen (children’s)

4-8pm, Doug Beisley (children’s)

4-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

Friday, September 1

10am-12noon, Katherine Munson (fantasy)

10am-2pm, Catherine McGuire (fiction, poetry)

10am-6pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, J.R. LaMar (children’s)

10am-8pm, Solber Martinez (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Mike Salt (horror novels)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

12noon-4pm, Michael Pace (historical novel)

2-8pm, Mary Jo Nyssen (children’s)

4-8pm, Lisa Lowell (young adult fantasy)

Saturday, September 2

10am-12noon, Katherine Munson (fantasy)

10am-2pm, Catherine McGuire (fiction, poetry)

10am-4pm, Paul Fattig (memoir, biography)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, J.R. LaMar (children’s)

10am-8pm, Solber Martinez (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Arlene Sachitano (mysteries)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

12noon-6pm, Sharleen Nelson (novels)

2-6pm, Francesca Varela (science fiction)

4-8pm, Kesha Ajose-Fisher (stories)

2-8pm, Angus Curran (thrillers)

Sunday, September 3

10am-2pm, Sharleen Nelson (novels)

10am-2pm, Mary Jo Nyssen (children’s)

10am-4pm, Jerry Sutherland (Oregon history)

10am-6pm, J.R. LaMar (children’s books)

10am-6pm, Sarah Munro (Timberline Lodge)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, Solber Martinez (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

2-4pm, Eva Seyler (historical novels)

2-8pm, Bob Welch (biography, adventure)

4-8pm, Veronica Esagui (historical fiction, health)

4-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

6-8pm, Angus Curran (thrillers)

Monday, September 4

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical fiction)

10am-12noon, Katherine Munson (fantasy)

10am-12noon, Paula Wart (children’s)

10am-4pm, Jean Moule (essays, fiction)

10am-6pm, Sarah Munro (Timberline Lodge)

10am-8pm, Joe Blakely (Oregon history, novels)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Barry Craft (science fiction)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports, memoir)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, Solber Martinez (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

2-8pm, Angus Curran (thrillers)

2-8pm, Paula Wart (children’s)

2-8pm, Bob Welch (biography, adventure)

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Oregon Authors!

Starting in 2022 the Oregon State Fair decided to celebrate Oregon literature by offering authors free space at a newly imagined Oregon Authors Table in Salem. Authors can sign up for as many two-hour time slots as they like from 10am to 8pm during the 11 days of the fair. There is no booth fee or sales fee, but authors are expected to bring their own books, handle their own sales, and pay their own fair admission, including a $5 parking fee. Admission tickets are $8 in advance or $12 at the door ($1 in advance for seniors, $3 at the door). Because tickets are not sold at the Red Gate nearest to Columbia Hall, it is strongly recommended that authors purchase admission in advance at https://oregonstatefair.org/about/admission-dates-hours/ . At that website you will have to register with your name and address and then click on the "Purchase Card" button to see a menu of ticket prices.

The Oregon Authors Table has a 40-year history at the fair in Salem. The venue consists of six 8-foot tables in a well-trafficked area near the entrance to Columbia Hall, between exhibits of quilts and cakes. Each author will have 4 feet of table space, a nameplate, and a nametag. The fair will provide publicity on its website and on the handout given to all fairgoers. Newspapers in Salem and Eugene will post articles featuring the schedule of author appearances on their websites.

Because there is only space for 12 authors at a time, you may need to limit your times to certain days or certain hours to make room for others. If you are requesting a block of 4 or 6 hours, please have mercy on me as volunteer scheduler and do not ask for just the middle of the day. To make room for other authors, it is also not permitted to attend both weekends of the fair; if you sign up for a Saturday or Sunday, you cannot sign up for a second Saturday or Sunday. 

If Salem is a long drive for you, you might choose to attend for all of just one day, or you might carpool with another author from your area, share a table for perhaps 2 or 4 hours, and still have time to explore the rest of the fair.

Although the general parking lots are not close to Columbia Hall, the fair offers a golf cart service that can shuttle you and your books. Ask the parking attendant when you pay your $5 parking fee. If you plan to attend more than one day, you may store books under the skirted tables behind the author area.

Available hours are 10am-noon, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, and 6-8pm each day of the fair. And tell me what you’ve been writing recently. Give me the titles of any books you have published in recent years. Add a one-sentence description of each. I’ll do what I can to get out the word as the fair approaches.

Hope to see you at the Oregon Authors Table at the fair in Salem!

Best, Bill Sullivan

541-335-9433, sullivan@efn.org