C. S. Lewis Festival

Rounding out this season’s installments of the Lewis Festival Scholar Series Podcast, this final episode features 2023 Featured Scholar Dr. Jerry Root!
Dr. Root continues his theme from his keynote address, including what he feels is man’s greatest sin. (And it’s not what Lewis felt was man’s greatest sin!) You decide.
https://www.lewisscholarcast.com/1288832/15358536

Have you seen our ad in the 2024 Performance Guide & 2024 Summer Program??
For more information about 2024 C.S. Lewis Festival events, visit our new website at cslewisfestival.org 🦁

Enjoy this new Lewis Festival Scholar Series Podcast episode with 2023 Featured Scholar Dr. Wayne Martindale!
Lewis wrote personal letters to everyone who wrote him, but he held Anglican Bishop Arthur Greeves in high esteem. Why did he write over 300 letters over 50 years to Greeves? Find out in this deeply personal reflection on Lewis by emeritus professor of Wheaton College, Dr. Wayne Martindale.
https://www.lewisscholarcast.com/1288832/15295233

For 2024, the C.S. Lewis Festival has been fortunate enough to submit several successful grant applications, receiving funding from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.
The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts are supporting this year’s festival events and activities through operational support.
The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation’s 2024 Spring Grant Cycle is helping to underwrite speaker fees for September’s Manthei Speaker Series and the Saturday Seminar at Great Lakes Center for the Arts.
We are so grateful for the local, regional, and state support!

Enjoy this new Lewis Festival Scholar Series Podcast episode with 2023 Featured Scholar Don W. King!
https://www.lewisscholarcast.com/1288832/15277175
Professor Don W. King gives us remarkable insights into the life and mind of Warren’s famous brother, C. S. Lewis. In his much anticipated new biography on Warnie, Professor King provides an illuminating window into the events, personalities, and culture of 20th-century England.

Registration for the 2024 C.S. Lewis Festival opens today! Visit cslewisfestival.org to see the listed events and to register.

Enjoy this new Lewis Festival Scholar Series Podcast episode featuring Dr. Jerry Root’s September 21, 2023, Keynote Address at Great Lakes Center for the Arts.
How do you define friendship? And why was friendship, in all walks of life, central to C. S. Lewis’s life? Esteemed author, professor, and speaker Dr. Jerry Root takes a deep dive into an area of Lewis’s life that is revealing and timely.
https://www.lewisscholarcast.com/1288832/15215737

Occurring during the Festival’s opening weekend – September 13-15 – is a free, in-store meet and greet at McLean & Eakin Booksellers featuring this year’s four scholars: Sarah Arthur, Sophfronia Scott, Léna Roy, and Charlotte Jones Voiklis.
On Saturday, September 14, these four authors will meet readers and sign books from 4 to 6 p.m. at Downtown Petoskey’s favorite bookstore. No RSVP is required, and McLean & Eakin will have copies of the authors’ books on hand, but it wouldn’t hurt to get your copies in advance!
We look forward to seeing all the authors at McLean & Eakin and to seeing you there too!

This year, the C.S. Lewis Festival is fortunate to be working in tandem with the L’Engle Writing Retreats to create in-depth and overlapping programming that delves into the lives and works of C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and Thomas Merton.
Led by Co-Directors Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott, the L’Engle Writing Retreats’ two-day event is set to take place in Petoskey, September 12 & 13, which leads into the Festival’s 2024 Opening Weekend, September 13 - 15. These back-to-back, independent events have worked to create complementary programming so attendees of both can gain invaluable insight into the inner workings of Lewis, L’Engle, and Merton. And don’t forget: Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott are two of the Festival’s featured scholars for 2024!
The writing retreat takes place at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Petoskey and includes opportunities for solo writing, cohorts, and plenaries. For more information and to register for the L’Engle Writing Retreats, visit lenglewritingretreats.com.
Visit cslewisfestival.org to learn more about the 2024 C.S. Lewis Festival and register for events starting June 15.

Here are some facts about 2024 C.S. Lewis Festival Featured Scholar Sarah Arthur!
P.S. Want to learn more about this year’s Festival and who’s participating? Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter today and get ready for our May installment! Visit cslewisfestival.org and subscribe at the bottom of the landing page.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Peter Schakel of Hope College. A featured speaker at our 2012 & 2014 Festivals, Peter was a delightful man with a deep love and respect for C.S. Lewis. We are grateful that he shared his passion and wisdom of Lewis with us and the Northern Michigan community.

If you received our first newsletter last month, you’ll know we’re bringing some fantastic scholars to Petoskey this fall for the 22nd C.S. Lewis Festival! We’re pleased to announce the following featured speakers for 2024:
Sarah Arthur, published author, C.S. Lewis Festival Co-Founder, and Co-Director of L’Engle Writing Retreats
Sophfronia Scott, award-winning journalist, published author, Co-Director of L’Engle Writing Retreats, and Alma College’s MFA in Creative Writing Founding Director
Léna Roy, Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter, published author, mentor, and Director of Teen Programs at Writopia Lab
Plus, special guest Charlotte Jones Voiklis, Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter, executor of the L’Engle Estate, and published author
Mark your calendars for the C.S. Lewis Festival Opening Weekend, September 13 - 15, 2024, and sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive special insight and information about Festival events. To sign up, visit cslewisfestival.org and subscribe at the bottom of the landing page.

“News from Narnia, the North & Beyond!”
Our new monthly e-newsletter, which launches later today, will share upcoming Festival event details, organization updates, messages from featured scholars, the latest podcast episodes, and more with subscribers!
Visit cslewisfestival.org to sign up for this monthly message. (Sign-up is at the bottom of the landing page.)

Attention! We’re seeking photographers for the Festival’s opening weekend, September 13 & 14, 2024 📷 Please email [email protected] to receive our Request for Proposal!

To quote C.S. Lewis on this Easter Sunday:
“The central Christian belief is that Christ’s death has somehow put us right with God and given us a fresh start.” ~ Mere Christianity
We hope all find a sense of renewal this day, celebrating the good and beautiful with those they love. Happy Easter from the C.S. Lewis Festival!

Did you hear that C.S. Lewis Festival Co-Founder Sarah Arthur has released her first YA novel?? “Once A Queen” is now available online and in stores!
“A mysterious manor house hides the keys to shocking family secrets—and rapidly fading portals to other worlds—in the richly woven opener to bestselling author Sarah Arthur’s young adult fantasy series.”

Exciting news for 2024!

I'm hitting the road again soon but I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to tell you 3 important facts about "A Circle of Quiet: The Madeleine L'Engle Writing Retreat" that I co-lead with Sarah Arthur:

1.) We're moving it to Michigan! This year's retreat will be held in September in tandem with the C. S. Lewis Festival in Petoskey.

2.) You will be able to attend festival activities including the keynote kickoff on this year's theme: “The Seeker and the Storytellers.” This special talk will feature a discussion about the trio of Madeleine L’Engle, C.S. Lewis, and Thomas Merton.

3.) Early bird registration is open and a third of the spots are already gone.

Please don't miss out. Check it out and reserve your place here:
https://www.lenglewritingretreats.com/2024fallretreat
We'll see you in September!

Madeleine L'Engle Conferences and Retreats

Attention! Our website – cslewisfestival.org – is under construction and receiving a much-needed facelift thanks to Abuzz Creative. We can’t wait to share our user-friendly new look with you soon.