Dark City LIT! is Black Mountain’s grassroots celebration of writers, readers, and the stories that connect us.
What began as a local author fair at the Black Mountain Public Library is growing into a full day of literature and creativity. Our dream is to build an annual festival that brings authors, readers, workshops, conversations, and literary experiences throughout Black Mountain.
This year, Dark City LIT! Festival takes a big step forward with 30 local and regional authors, three free workshops and creative sessions, an afternoon reading showcase, and an evening with acclaimed Asheville author Nathan Ballingrud.
All Dark City LIT! events are free and open to the public.
Start the day meeting 30 regional authors at the Write Local, Read Local Author Fair!
10:00 AM – Noon at Black Mountain Public Library (105 N. Dougherty St. Black Mountain, NC 28711)
Local Author Fair and Readings
Spend the morning meeting local and regional authors, discovering new books, and hearing writers share their work. Participating authors will have the opportunity to display and sell their books and speak directly with readers. Festival attendees can browse across genres, find their next great read, and celebrate the depth of literary talent in our community. Free and no purchase is necessary!
Three Free Writing Workshops!
12:00 – 1:30 PM at Lakeview Center (401 Laurel Circle Drive, Black Mountain, NC 28711)
Idea Incubator Workshop with Author Jacqui Castle
In this workshop, we're going to get those creative wheels turning! Come ready to talk about a variety of generative writing exercises, including erasure, picture and word prompts, mixed media exercises, stream of consciousness writing, collage, and more. Bring a notebook or laptop, as you will have an opportunity to put one or more of these generative exercises into practice!
Jacqui Castle is an educator and novelist living and writing in Asheville, North Carolina. Her novel The Seclusion garnered Castle the title of 2020 Indie Author of the Year through the Indie Author Project (a collaboration between Library Journal and Biblioboard), and the 2022 sequel The Chasm was hailed as “Not only necessary in school libraries but also a solid choice for a class read” by School Library Journal.
Jacqui is the proud owner of Lit Local Mini Bookshops, which brings the work of local authors to Asheville establishments. Jacqui currently teaches creative writing through Redbud Writing Project, Great Smokies Writing Program and Story Parlor. When not writing, she can be found hanging out with her family and consuming far too much caffeine.
2:30 – 3:30 PM at Black Mountain Public Library (105 N. Dougherty St. Black Mountain, NC 28711)
Behind the Mic with Leanne Woodward
This interactive presentation will take you behind the scenes of how audiobooks are cast, crafted, and created. Authors, listeners, and aspiring narrators are invited to ask questions and learn about the booming audiobook market.
Leanne Woodward has been behind a microphone for more than 35 years in radio and voiceover, but audiobooks are her passion. She has narrated over 250 titles with independent authors and publishers in genres ranging from romantasy to non-fiction. When not working, she explores the real world with hikes into the wilderness and dangerous culinary experiments. Learn more at Audiobook narrator | Leanne Narrates
3:30 – 5:00 PM at Black Mountain Public Library (105 N. Dougherty St, Black Mountain, NC 28711)
Zines: All for One and One for All! With Mary Lounsbury
A zine (short for magazine) can be anything you want it to be—whatever topic thrills or fascinates you, or no topic at all. The idea of making your own magazine, often on a lo-tech shoestring budget, has been around for decades, really taking off in the sixties. It appeals to revolutionaries and artists as well as grannies and kiddos: anyone who has something to say. You can make a zine by yourself, and it also makes a great group project.
In this workshop we'll make two zines: one by you, for you, and one group effort, to which we'll all contribute. Everyone will take home their own copies, as well as ideas and instructions to make more after the workshop-with friends, with family, or on your own.
For all levels. No particular skills or experience required--just the desire to express and connect!
Mary Lounsbury, PhD, is a mythologist, writer-illustrator, maker of things, and author of How To Participate in the World: A Manual of Creativity and Connection with Lots of Theory and Digression. Mary celebrates creative engagement as the fertile ground out of which we grow our connections to the world, and her art and storybooks mirror this central philosophy. She has an arts background and a PhD in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology, and loves myth, fairy tale, and creative exploration in all forms. She leads creative arts groups for the health and well-being of the individual (you) and society (us). For healing, and renewal, and for fun, even in the face of fire. Learn more at https://www.mythos-sphere.com/
An Evening with an Author
We will close the festival with a special evening program featuring an invited author in conversation about writing, storytelling, and the ideas behind their work.
6:30 – 7:30 PM Into the Dark: Horror, Imagination, & the Human Heart
An Evening with Nathan Ballingrud At Black Mountain Center for the Arts (225 W. State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711)
Bram Stoker Award winner and the inspiration behind Hulu's Monsterland will be in conversation with Jamieson Ridenhour of Palimpsest Productions about storytelling, imagination, and the strange worlds of horror fiction.
Tickets are not required, but registration is encouraged: