The Southwest Festival of the Written Word (SWFWW) in Silver City NM, which celebrates the power and beauty of the written word, embracing the rich diversity of Southwestern cultures, has received a generous New Mexico TRUE grant award from the New Mexico Tourism department.

In an interview, Festival co-chairs, Jeannie Miller and Mary Hotvedt explained, €œ The 2015 Festival is indeed a New Mexico TRUE event. The Southwest Festival of the Written Word, to be held Friday-Sunday, October 2-4, 2015, is a joyous gathering of over fifty writers who live and work in the Southwest. Festival attendees get to mingle and converse with the presenters and listen to them discuss their craft and work in over forty sessions held in venues throughout historic downtown Silver City. All events €”except the Festival Banquet €”are open to the public free of charge. No registration is required to attend the Festival. €

Miller continued €œTo be named a New Mexico True event is especially rewarding because it is recognition of our success as a Festival. This is our second biennial event; the first Festival was held in 2013. € Hotvedt added that it also shows support for the Prologue Events that are sponsored by the Southwest Festival of the Written Word between the biennial Festivals. €œIn addition, we hold what we call our Prologue Weekend on the first weekend of October in numbered years. It features hands-on writing workshops and more sessions where authors interact with attendees and talk about their work and their writing lives. €

The Festival venue, Silver City NM, is the gateway to the Gila Wilderness and the Gila National Forest, and is a Continental Trail Gateway Community. Festival attendees will find that Silver City enthusiastically welcomes visitors, exemplifying New Mexico TRUE hospitality. It is the home of world-class restaurants, art galleries and museums, intimate and unique coffee shops, a vibrant university, loads of historical venues, cool temperatures, and an eclectic and friendly community.

Please visit www.swwordfiesta.org for full Festival information, presenter bios, and the Festival schedule. Contact info@swwordfiesta.org if you wish to be placed on the Festival email list.