Centrum is honored to welcome author Samuel Ligon as its Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Writers’ Conference.

Ligon’s association with the Port Townsend Writers’ Conference began in 2008. Prompted by a friend and colleague, he came to Centrum as an Artist-in-Residence and was invited to teach a few, impromptu evening classes. His genuine enthusiasm and candid feedback drew praise from the participants and that as they say, was that—he’s been a part of the Conference ever sense.

“The Port Townsend Writers’ Conference is invigorating, stimulating and supportive. It gives participants an edge to push themselves and their work,” said Ligon, author of Drift and Swerve, a collection of stories, and two novels Safe in Heaven Dead and Among the Dead and Dreaming. “The beauty of the Olympic Peninsula, combined with the beauty of the Conference itself, strikes a balance of incredible intensity that results in the participants generating a lot of good work.”

Ligon succeeds Erin Belieu who completed her 5th year as Artistic Director in 2015. “The last five years have been one of the most rewarding and unforgettable times of my life. It’s been an honor to serve as the artistic director for the Conference, which in my opinion is the best, most constructive writers’ conference in the country,” Belieu said. “The Conference has truly been a home away from home for me and I will miss the participants, many of whom have become close friends, dearly. I look forward to returning as a faculty member in the future.”

Belieu added, “Centrum could not have selected a better individual than Sam for their next artistic director. He has consistently gone above and beyond his duties as a faculty member. He is incredibly organized, enthusiastic and brilliant. Not to mention one of my favorite fiction writers!”

Centrum’s artistic directors work with program managers and advisory committees to select faculty and design and shape Centrum’s year-round artistic experiences.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Sam Ligon to guide and shape Centrum’s Port Townsend Writers’ Conference in 2016,” said Program Manager, Jordan Hartt. “Since 2008, his commitment to craft and to community as a faculty member has transformed the lives of hundreds of Conference students. Ligon has an extraordinary local, regional, and national reputation, and we’re excited to see the Conference continue to develop under his artistic direction.”

Since 1974, writers have come to Centrum to immerse themselves in the writing life and make breakthroughs in their personal work. The Port Townsend Writers’ Conference, located at the heart of the thriving Pacific Northwest literary scene, is Centrum’s flagship literary program. The Conference is a place to soak in writing for a week with great literary writers and teachers.