Poet Laureates Ted Williams and Jenna Goldsmith discuss the legacy of American author, poet, and queer icon Sarah Orne Jewett. Register to attend here: https://galenalitfestjewett.eventbrite.com

Galena’s Poet Laureate, Ted Williams and Poet Laureate Emerita of Rockford, Jenna Goldsmith, will discuss the life and legacy of American author, poet, and queer icon Sharah Orne Jewett as well as the connections they both share with her. Through poetry, letters, music, and images they will bring her to life.

Goldsmith first encountered Sarah Orne Jewett in an American Literature course in college and immediately felt a kind of kinship with her. She was a trailblazer, writing about the full range of bonds between women, and a keen chronicler of her local environment and its colorful cast of characters.

Williams learned of Jewett when his mother mentioned an ancestor of theirs who was a famous writer. His interest piqued, Ted dove into genealogy and discovered her identity. He has since visited the Sarah Orne Jewett House and explored the places she lived and invoked the regionalism for which her writing is famous.Ted was startled to discover a great deal of commonality between his writing and hers.

Galena LitFest is the twelfth annual literary festival organized and funded by the Galena Public Library with support from the Friends of the Galena Public Library and in partnership with the Galena Center for the Arts, Champagne on Main, Galena Cellars, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. Events will take place throughout January 2026 in-person and virtually

The Galena Public Library’s historical librarians have been busy curating five rounds of questions across two centuries from Galena’s founding up to the present. You might even hear your own name! DJ Jeff Danna will emcee and play a variety of tunes on vinyl. Registrants will receive an exclusive Galena Bicentennial keepsake rocks glass only available at Trivia Night.

Teams of up to eight are asked to register here https://galenatrivianight.eventbrite.com with a team name. Bring your own decorations and costumes for your round table. Your theme must be tied to Galena’s history in some way and be obvious to our panel of guest judges. Keep in mind that Galena has a history that covers two hundred years, any theme that fits within the range of 1826-2026 counts. All participants must be respectful and culturally responsible. Table cloths, center pieces, food/beverage, etc . . . are all great! Doors will open at 5 pm so teams can get a head start setting up their tables.

The first place team and the team with the most creative decor and costumes will win prizes!

Food and beverage are BYO. We’ll have ice and plastic cups available. This is a 21 event.

Explore electrification with Tamara Dean through stories of noncomformists who have embraced or sought to conquer the darkness. Register here: https://galenalitfestlight.eventbrite.com

Long before modern Dark Sky initiatives, some Driftless-area inhabitants resisted the electric lights that promised to ruin their nighttime freedom and ease among shadows. Based on her essay “Night Vision” from Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless, Tamara Dean explores rural electrification and night vision technology through the stories of nonconformists who over the past century have embraced or sought to conquer the darkness.

When registering please choose either in-person or virtual attendance. This is a hybrid program. Tamara Dean will present in person at the Galena Center for the Arts. There is also the option to Zoom in and view the presentation virtually. After the presentation, Tamara will be available to sell and sign her books on site in partnership with Galena Book & Paper.

Tamara Dean is the author of Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless (University of Minnesota Press, 2025), a collection of twelve true tales of discovery that invite readers to experience nature mindfully in a time of uncertainty. Reviewers call Shelter and Storm “luminous,” “fascinating,” “captivating,” and “a revelatory study of person and place, entwined.” Her short stories and essays have appeared in The American Scholar, The Georgia Review, the Guardian, One Story, Orion, The Southern Review, and other publications. She’s also the author of a book on sustainable living, The Human-Powered Home.

Galena LitFest is the twelfth annual literary festival organized and funded by the Galena Public Library with support from the Friends of the Galena Public Library and in partnership with the Galena Center for the Arts, Champagne on Main, Galena Cellars, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. Events will take place throughout January 2026 in-person and virtually.

Hollie Smurthwaite will explore how to craft open-door intimacy that fits your characters, your story, and your voice. Champagne on Main will feature special spicy cocktails! Register here: https://galenalitfestspice.eventbrite.com

Writing spicy isn’t just about getting graphic—it’s about flavor. Spice can be slow-building or fiery, sweet or sharp, but like any good dish, it needs to complement the meal. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to craft open-door intimacy that fits your characters, your story, and your voice. You’ll learn how to balance physicality with emotion, navigate language choices, and shape scenes that feel both authentic and impactful. We’ll also tackle common fears, how to write past awkwardness, and ways to find your comfort zone on the spice scale.

This is a hybrid program. Hollie Smurthwaite will present in person at Champagne on Main. There is also the option to Zoom in and view the workshop virtually. Either will offer opportunities to interact with the instructor. Please register at www.galenalibrary.org to attend in-person or virtually. After the workshop, Hollie will be available after the workshop to sell and sign her books on site.

Hollie Smurthwaite writes paranormal romances where magic meets reality, blending wit, angst, and steamy chemistry with themes of trust, empowerment, and found family. Her first novel, The Color of Trauma, won the 2020 Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project.

Galena LitFest is the twelfth annual literary festival organized and funded by the Galena Public Library with support from the Friends of the Galena Public Library and in partnership with the Galena Center for the Arts, Champagne on Main, Galena Cellars, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. Events will take place throughout January 2026 in-person and virtually.

Join award winning author Sandra Jackson-Opoku at Fried Green Tomatoes for a curated dinner featuring soul food recipes from the Savvy Summers Mysteries book series to hear about her journey as an author and the impact of generational history, food, and community.

A full dinner will be served including beverage, appetizer, entree, and dessert. Purchase tickets here: https://galenalitfestsavvy.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited! A book signing in partnership with Galena Book & Paper will follow.

She will be joined in conversation by Michelle Cox the 2024 Illinois Indie Author Project winner and author of historical fiction, including the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series, The Fallen Woman’s Daughter, and The Merriweather Novels.

Galena LitFest is the twelfth annual literary festival organized and funded by the Galena Public Library with support from the Friends of the Galena Public Library and in partnership with the Galena Center for the Arts, Champagne on Main, Galena Cellars, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. Events will take place throughout January 2026 in-person and virtually