Sisters Festival of Books sponsored author visit from Rosanne Parry to Sisters Elementary School 2025
About
Our goal is to expand access to the literary arts across Central Oregon by providing dynamic community programming, uplifting local and regional authors, and supporting literacy initiatives throughout the region. We believe that engagement with literature fosters cross-cultural understanding, facilitates the exchange of ideas, cultivates empathy, and ultimately strengthens communities by promoting inclusivity and dialogue. The centerpiece of our programming is the annual, weekend-long Sisters Festival of Books, held each fall in Sisters.
Our History
Sisters Festival of Books first launched in October of 2019, inspired by a conversation between Sisters resident Mac Hay and the new owner of Paulina Springs Books, Lane Jacobson. They agreed that Sisters would be a fantastic home for a book festival - based off of both the community’s long-term support of Paulina Springs Books and avid love for and participation in other arts focused festivals and events. Mac and Lane enlisted the help of Ann Richardson, a longtime Sisters event organizer, to launch the first iteration of the festival in 2019 to great success - featuring over 40 authors in 3 days, a catered dinner alongside authors inside of the bookstore, and raising money for a scholarship fund for graduating seniors. After a five year hiatus, Sisters Festival of Books has returned as an annual event and a non-profit, benefiting local public school libraries, graduating students, and other literacy initiatives in the area.
Our Mission
Sisters Festival of Books’ (SFoB) mission is to promote literacy, foster a love of reading and storytelling, and increase access to the literary arts across Central Oregon, with an emphasis on uplifting underrepresented voices. We aim to connect readers, writers and storytellers from across the NW and beyond in a celebration of all things literature, serving as a hub for cultural enrichment and engagement.
Our Team
Lane Jacobson
Executive Director
director@sistersfob.org
Lane began his bookselling career over a decade ago in his hometown of Mammoth Lakes, CA at a small indie bookstore called Booky Joint. After transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill for college, he worked part time at Flyleaf Books as a student and managed the bookstore after graduation. In October of 2018, he relocated to Sisters to take ownership of Paulina Springs Books. Since then, he has worked to grow and modernize Paulina Springs Books, while staying true to the spirit established by its previous owners and cherished by the community. Lane is a fierce believer in the importance of storytelling and access to books, and it is this passion - combined with Sisters’ sense of community and love of the arts - that led Lane to launch Sisters Festival of Books in 2019 alongside Ann Richardson and Mac Hay. After a five year hiatus, Lane is excited to bring the festival back as its own non-profit, bigger and better than ever!
Favorite Authors:
Larry McMurtry, Andrew Krivak, Becky Chambers, Victor LaValle, Ross Gay, JRR Tolkien, David Joy, Patrick Leigh Fermor, David Mitchell, NK Jemisin, Mohsin Hamid, Dan Abnett, Joe Abercrombie, David Grann
Dana Greenblatt
Programs Director
dana@sistersfob.org
Born and raised in Southern Oregon, Dana has always appreciated the natural beauty, environmental diversity and rich arts cultural that exists throughout the state. Dana has several years of experience both as an educator and in nonprofit administration and joined the SFOB team after moving to Central Oregon in early 2024. She believes that fostering community gathering spaces and increasing access to the arts is integral to building a healthy and welcoming communities. Dana is delighted to be a part of the Sisters Festival Books team and serve the Central Oregon community through providing opportunities to engage with the literary arts.
Favorite Authors: Toni Morrison, Ocean Vuong, Ruth Ozeki, Louise Erdrich