Lighthouse Writers Workshop hosts award-winning poets Elizabeth Robinson and Radha Marcum at a reading on Feb. 6 from 4 to 6 p.m. Happy hour is at 4; the program begins at 5 p.m. Robinson will be teaching Marcum’s work in her class, Contemporary Eco-Poetries, earlier that day. For more, click here. Admission for non-members to the poetry reading is $5.

The Fort Collins Book Fest will be Feb 7-17. Deborah Jackson Taffa, author of the acclaimed memoir Whiskey Tender, will be keynote speaker and will give a craft talk, “The Possibilities of Nonfiction Writing,” on Saturday, Feb. 15. Also speaking will be Brandon Shimoda, professor at The Colorado College, whose most recent book, The Afterlife is Letting Go, creatively explores the afterlife of Japanese-Americans interned at camps during WWII, including Amache in southeastern Colorado; and Tim Z. Hernandez, author most recently of the hybrid memoir/investigation They Call You Back. For a full schedule, click here.

A free virtual conference on Sat., Feb. 8, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Author Mark Stevens presents Craft: The Power of Now; founder of BestThrillers.com Bella Wright presents Book Marketing Strategies; author and forensic expert DP Lyle, MD, presents Criminal Mischief: The Latest in Forensic Science and Technology; and Margaret Mizushima interviews bestselling author Anne Hillerman on The Writer’s Life. Virtual event, but registration is required.

Poetry Night at the Library is a monthly program at the Mesa County Library. Each month poets are invited to read their work based on a previous month’s challenge, or any other poem they’d like to read. Then, a new topic is discussed and a new challenge is issued. Topics range from a particular poet, to a school of poetry, to a new tool for your poetry toolbox such as a form or poetic device. No poetry experience is required – all are welcome! Next event is Feb. 12.

Poetry Night occurs the second Wednesday of every month from 6-7:45 p.m. at the Central Library, 443 N. 6th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501. No RSVP is needed.

Lighthouse Writers Workshop hosts a book launch for Erika Krouse’s new collection of short stories, Save Me, Stranger, on Feb. 22. Happy hour’s at 3:30; the program begins at 4 p.m. The collection has been deemed “far-ranging and visionary” by Adam Johnson, and “disturbing but comforting” by Louise Erdrich. Erika will be in conversation with Colorado author Jenny Shank, starting at 4:15. See our review of Save Me, Stranger here and our interview with Krouse here.

May 29 – June 1 at the Franciscan Retreat Center, 7740 Dear Hill Gove, Colorado Springs, CO.

Authors are encouraged to come and work, network with other authors, join a critique group, and gather valuable knowledge from others in the industry. Lodging and meals are included in the price of the retreat. Registration is open. Rooms sell out fast and reservations are first come, first accepted.

Presenters include Angie Hodapp, October Santerelli, Kelly Bishop and Z.S. Diamanti. Kate Jonuska will return for morning yoga sessions.

Cost is $449 single attendee rate or $349 roommate rate. Includes lodging and meals. Day rate of $75/day is available and includes meals.