Terroir Creative Writing Festival

Over the years, the festival has definitely found a place in the creative life of Yamhill County. McMinnville’s Third Street Books has served the festival’s on-site bookstore since the beginning, and a number of local venues have hosted us: The McMinnville Community Center, The Yamhill Valley Campus of Chemeketa Community College, and now, the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg.

From the beginning, Terroir has hosted both emerging and established writers from the county and the region. Past speakers have included Ursula K. LeGuin, Molly Gloss, Jean Auel, Tracy Daugherty, Kim Stafford, Paulann Petersen, Henry Hughes, Fonda Lee, Chelsea Cain, Willy Vlautin, C. Morgan Kennedy, Andrea Stolowitz, Steve Duin, Laura Stanfill, Emily Grosvenor, Joe Wilkins, Barbara Drake, and many more. With 10 to 15 speakers each year, many outstanding authors have shared the secrets of their craft, offered encouragement, and given readings from their works.