about Elephant mountain lit

Elephant Mountain Lit Fest is a project of the Kootenay Literary Society, a registered non-profit that was founded in 2011 by a group of literary movers and shakers in the Nelson area. Along with Elephant Mountain Lit Fest, the Kootenay Literary Society brings authors into local schools and partners with other organizations on literary happenings throughout the year.

For a look back at our Festivals since 2012, see our Past Festivals and Gallery pages.

Kootenay Literary Society BOARD

President | Samara Nicoll

Vice-President | Leesa Dean

Treasurer | Paul Novitski

Tressa Ford

Rayya Liebich

Anna Purcell

Sydney Black

For $1, become a member this year, and show your support for our promotion of the arts in the Kootenays! The KLS accepts board nominations at each Annual General Meeting, usually held in November.

Kootenay Literary Society 2024 AGM
Zoom
Join for $1!
Dec 04, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Zoom
Rewind 2024 with us!
Non-fiction Adventure Writing with Jayme Moye
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute
Details
Sep 15, 2024, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, 191 Baker St Second Floor, Nelson, BC V1L 4H1, Canada
Award-winning mountain sports and culture writer Jayme Moye teaches how to turn any experience in the outdoors into a captivating narrative using the basic elements of story, whether you’re writing personally or professionally.
Exploring Your Creepy Side
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute
Details
Sep 15, 2024, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, 191 Baker St Second Floor, Nelson, BC V1L 4H1, Canada
In this workshop, bestselling thriller author Roz Nay will focus on all the techniques and tricks to hook a reader and keep them invested.
Creative Journal Workshop
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute
Details
Sep 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, 191 Baker St Second Floor, Nelson, BC V1L 4H1, Canada
In this workshop you will peek into Emma’s journals, hear her tips for journal keeping success, and try writing exercises centered on creative reflection and incorporating more hand-drawn elements into your writing.
Writing Our Grief: Workshop and Short Film Screening
Capitol Theatre Nelson
Details
Sep 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Capitol Theatre Nelson, 421 Victoria St, Nelson, BC V1L 4K6, Canada
This workshop will create a shared space to honour our grief through writing.
Make Your Mark! Book Marketing for New Authors
Webinar (Zoom)
Details
Sep 12, 2024, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Webinar (Zoom)
Marketing is one of the most important elements of a self publishing authors journey. Whether you are planning to make this a career or fulfilling a passion project, you will want to ensure you establish the right marketing strategy for your book.
Kootenay Literary Society Annual General Meeting
Zoom
Details
Jan 23, 2024, 7:00 p.m. – Jan 24, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Zoom
Rewind 2023 with us!
After Apocalypse: A Zine Workshop on Emergence
Nelson
Details
Sep 17, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Nelson, 502 Vernon St, Nelson, BC V1L 4E7, Canada
The End Times are over, and you survived in Nelson’s Bunker. The doors are about to open, and you are invited to enter a new world. Who are you now? What will you find? What kind of community emerges from the Bunker? What do you leave behind, and what do you carry forward?
Ponderosa Reading @ Nelson Studio 88
Nelson
Details
Sep 16, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Nelson, 402 Victoria St, Nelson, BC V1L 4K5, Canada
FT. Greg Nesteroff, James Pakootas, Susan Andrews Grace, and Shayna Jones *Included in the Gold Pass
Creativity as a Catalyst for Change
Nelson
Details
Sep 16, 2023, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Nelson, 402 Victoria St, Nelson, BC V1L 4K5, Canada
How can creative voices and storytelling change the world? Join Ivan Coyote, John Vaillant, and James Pakootas in a conversation moderated by Leesa Dean. *Included in the Gold Pass
It’s A Mood: Speaking Between Music and Message
Nelson
Details
Sep 16, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Nelson, 402 Victoria St, Nelson, BC V1L 4K5, Canada
It has been said that poetry exists in that space somewhere between spoken language and pure melody. In this workshop, we will explore the polarities of playing with sound in language and being explicit around our “message.”
Workshop: Active Voice w/ Ivan Coyote
Nelson
Details
Sep 16, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Nelson, 719 Vernon St Suite 103, Nelson, BC V1L 4G3, Canada
Join the author of 13 books and well-seasoned storyteller Ivan Coyote for this workshop crafted to help you bring your written work to life on stage.
Cottonwood Reading @The Capitol Theatre
Nelson
Details
Sep 15, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Nelson, 421 Victoria St, Nelson, BC V1L 4K6, Canada
Join us at the Capitol Theatre for a reading from Ivan Coyote, Sonnet L'Abbe, John Vaillant, and Deryn Collier. *Included in the Gold Pass. Individual tickets sold through The Capitol Theatre.
Nature Speaks
Nelson
Details
Sep 14, 2023, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Nelson, 602 Silica St, Nelson, BC V1L 4N1, Canada
Imagine creating art from conversation. This 3-hour poetry experience will explore our relationships to each other and our connection to Mother Earth.
Copyright 101 w/ Martha Rans
Zoom
Details
Sep 13, 2023, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Zoom
Elephant Mountain Lit Fest has partnered with the Nelson & District Arts Council to offer a free webinar on Copyright with Martha Rans
The Modern Publishing Landscape
Zoom
Details
Sep 12, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PDT
Zoom
This webinar with Friesen Press provides an overview of the modern book publishing landscape and gives advice to authors on how to successfully navigate it. We’ll discuss the general publishing options of Traditional Publishing, DIY, and Assisted Self-Publishing.
Writing's Role On Screen: A Conversation and Short Film Screening
Nelson
Details
Sep 11, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Nelson, 719 Vernon St Suite 103, Nelson, BC V1L 4G3, Canada
Individual tickets for this event are sold through the Civic Theatre. This event is included in the Gold Pass
Elephant Mountain Lit Fest Gold Pass
Location is TBD
Details
Sep 11, 2023, 7:00 p.m. – Sep 17, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Location is TBD
The gold pass provides access to all festival panels and readings.