Kristy Athens, the 2010 Harney County Writer-in-Residence, along with the 2009 Writer-in-Residence, Angela Allen, will participate in the March 27 SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day at the Harney County Library by reading from their published works.

Athens arrived in Harney County on March 1 and has been busy at schools in Frenchglen, Crane and Diamond.  During spring break, she will have a workshop at the Kids Club, then teach Suntex and Double O students the following week.

Along with being a published freelance writer and editor, Athens was a long-time coordinator of the Oregon Book Awards (OBA) Author Tour and has come to Burns many times with the OBA authors. She has worked with people of all ages via SMART (Start Making a Reader Today), Writers in the Schools, Write Around Portland and workshops for adults.

Workshop dates and times for the general public to interact with the writer-in-residence are listed below. Watch for workshops scheduled through Treasure Valley Community College Outreach Center, also in April. A theatrical “read-around” is in the works as a pro-active fund raiser for the Harney County Writer-In-Residence program.

Athens’ schedule is as follows:

• Friday, March 26, 2-4 p.m., at Kids Club of Harney County.

• Saturday, March 27, noon to 4 p.m. Harney County Library during the SWAN event.

• Tuesday, April 6, 2-5 p.m., Workshop Part 1 of 2 at the Harney County Library.

• Saturday, April 10, 1-3 p.m. at Triangle Park, Burns. Outdoor workshop with focus on En Plein Air writing.

• Tuesday, April 20, 2-5 p.m., Workshop Part 2 of 2 at the Harney County Library.

• Friday, April 30, 5-8 p.m. Farewell party and readings by  Athens at the Community Center.

For more information about the Harney County Writer-in-Residence program and workshops, contact coordinators Carolyn Koskela at 541-493-2404 and Kate Marsh-Copeland at 541-573-7204.