Author Pam Houston, a former Parkite, will give a presentation on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Summit County Library Kimball Junction Branch as part of the Utah Humanities Book Festival. Houston is the author of “Cowboys Are My Weakness,” “Air Mail” and the memoir “Deep Creek: Finding Hope In The High Country.” She teaches in the Creative Writing MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts Creative Writing MFA program, is a Professor of English at UC Davis, and cofounder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers. Credit: Photo by Michael BlakemanThe Summit County Library will welcome back Pam Houston, author of “Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country,” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24.The free event, billed as A Night with Pam Houston and which will include a presentation and book signing, will be held at the Kimball Junction Branch, 1885 W. Ute Blvd.Houston’s appearance is part of Utah Humanities Book Festival, said Library Director Daniel Compton. (See accompanying story on page B-1).“There’s a different focus this year, and they are having different regions of the state schedule events on different weeks of October,” he said. “In the past they had events all over the state going on at the same time. So, it was impossible to catch two different authors in entirely different cities. Now, you can spend time in one area and go to events there, and then spend another week in a different area and attend events there.”The Oct. 24 event is part of the regional Wasatch Back Festival, which will run from Oct. 21-27, according to Compton.“We’ve been working with Kase Johnstun, who is the manager of Utah Center for the Book, and I think this was kind of his idea,” he said. “I like the concept of focusing on different places during different weeks.”Houston, a former Park City resident who teaches in the Creative Writing Masters of Fine Arts program at the Institute of American Indian Arts and is a professor of English at University of California Davis, has done a couple of presentations in the Summit County and Park City areas a few years ago, Compton said. “She visited us in person in January 2020 at our Kamas Valley Branch right before COVID hit and gave a great talk about her works,” he said. “Then, of course, COVID happened, but her book, ‘Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country,’ was selected as our One Book, One Community read that year, and she had to do a virtual event for the author presentation that fall. So it’s been a while since we’ve seen her, and I’m excited to get her back in person to the community.”Johnstun contacted Compton and asked if the Summit County Library would be interested in facilitating Houston, who is also cofounder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers, during this year’s festival.“Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country” is a memoir by former Parkite Pam Houston, who will give a Utah Humanities Book Festival presentation and do a book signing on Oct. 24 at the Summit County Library Kimball Junction Branch. The book addresses her abusive childhood, climate change and adjusting to her life on a 120-acre ranch in the Colorado mountains.“We said, ‘Absolutely’ because we have a great relationship with her,” Compton said with a laugh. “I know she loves the Park City and Summit County area, and I think the community has fond memories of reading ‘Deep Creek’ during a really difficult time in our world. I think many people found solace in her writing.”The Summit County Library is working with Dolly’s Bookstore on the event as well, Compton said.“The plan is for Pam to do a presentation and then a book signing,” he said. “Dolly’s will have some of Pam’s books available for purchase and signing at the event, and people, of course, are welcome to bring their own copies to sign.”Houston’s appearance is the only Summit County Library contribution scheduled during this year’s festival, Compton said.“Next year, if this is something we want to do, we will do more,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be a part of the festival. We’ve been part of it in the past but not consistently, so I’m excited about how they did this year, and I’m hoping to build upon that.”Compton gives props to Adriane Herrick Juarez, Park City Library executive director, for taking the lead on this new aspect of the Utah Humanities Book Festival. “She got excited about doing events in the Wasatch Back and partnering with the different libraries, including the Wasatch County Library,” he said. “I would like to see the Wasatch Festival grow and make this an annual tradition like how we do the One Book, One Community.”Sign-ups are currently available online at tinyurl.com/459mpuam for Houston’s appearance, but not required, Compton said.“It’s mostly for us to make sure we have enough seating and send out reminders,” he said. “I hope we get a good turnout and people take advantage of the opportunity to come and hear from a prolific author who loves Summit County and cares deeply about the issues that affect us here.”An Evening with Pam HoustonWhen: 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24 Where: Summit County Library Kimball Junction Branch, 1885 W. Ute Blvd. Cost: Free Web: tinyurl.com/whp64fjz and tinyurl.com/459mpuamThe post Summit County Library welcomes back Pam Houston appeared first on Park Record.