Community Speaker Series

Join us for these FREE evening talks in July
with Ruth Reichl and Sonia Purnell

 

Presented by the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference and The Community Library.

 

The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (SVWC) is excited to again be partnering with The Community Library to host FREE lectures for the local community. This summer, two SVWC speakers will give free talks bookending the the Conference. We are excited to welcome two incredible authors—Ruth Reichl on Wednesday, July 16 and Sonia Purnell on Tuesday, July 22. Both talks will be held at 5:30pm in The Community Library Lecture Hall with book signings to follow (books will be available to purchase on-site).

 

Registration will open May 5 at 9am.

There is limited seating, and we are expecting the events to fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up! If you must cancel, please email [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance so we can reach out to those on the waitlist. Register at comlib.org/2025/css/.

 

RUTH REICHL
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

5:30pm at The Community Library  |  Registration opens May 5 at 9am

 

“The Paris Novel”

 

 

SONIA PURNELL
TUESDAY, JULY 22

5:30pm at The Community Library  |  Registration opens May 5 at 9am

 

“Kingmaker: Pamela Harriman’s Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue”

 

 

If you can’t join us in person, or the talk is already full, you can still join us via livestream from home (pending author permissions). No registration is required for livestreaming. Visit comlib.org/2025/css/ for more details. We recommend signing up for our email newsletter for important updates about these events.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SPEAKER SERIES

Since 2017, the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference has partnered with The Community Library in Ketchum to host free literary lectures for the local community. In 2021, the partnership expanded to become our year-round Community Speaker Series, featuring multiple free talks throughout the year, with a few speakers “bookending” the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference each July.

 

These talks, bringing our country’s brightest literary minds directly to the Sun Valley community, are typically held outdoors at Ketchum’s Forest Service Park or at The Community Library. They are free and open to the public (registration required). Past presenters include Judy Blume, John Vaillant, Javier Zamora, Curtis Sittenfeld, Imbolo Mbue, Erich Schwartzel, Ayad Akhtar, Tobias Wolff, Susan Orlean, and many more.

 

Be sure to check back regularly or sign up for our email newsletter to receive important updates and information about these events.

PLEASE NOTE:
  • By attending any Writers’ Conference event, you agree to our photography terms: “During the course of the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference, we will be filming, photographing, and recording the overall experience, including all sessions and any Q&A that is included. This is primarily for our marketing and distribution of content. Please be aware that by attending the Conference you consent to allow the Conference to use your likeness and voice in recordings, films, and tapes in our marketing materials and all media, now and in the future, waive any rights with respect to such use, and release the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference from any liability pertaining to such use.”
  • Events may be livestreamed.
  • Passes are required of all participants for attendance. Please respect the attendees and supporters of our nonprofit event—anyone without a pass will be asked by security to leave the site. You may visit our website or our Information Desk in the Bookstore Tent to learn more about other options for enjoying SVWC content.
  • The views, opinions, and positions expressed by SVWC speakers and attendees at the Conference are the speakers’ and attendees’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of SVWC, its founders, board members, staff, or volunteers.

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