FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2026

St. Helens, Ore. - A new month-long festival supporting local authors and writers is coming to Columbia County in February 2026. The Columbia County Stories by the River Festival is sponsored by the St. Helens Public Library and the Columbia County Authors Alliance. It includes a series of workshops and events hosted in St. Helens and Scappoose from February 14 through March 14, 2026.

A pre-festival Feb"word"ary kick-off meeting takes place on Thursday, January 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunshine Pizza, 2124 Columbia Boulevard, in St. Helens. Hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance, local author Jana Mann will lead participants as they prepare for a month-long writing challenge that takes place in February 2026.

The festival officially starts on February 14 with a launch event for St. Helens Public Library's Columbia County Authors Special Collection. The special collection is comprised of books by authors who live or work in Columbia County. On February 14 from 11 a.m. to noon, St. Helens Public Library will debut the collection. Community members are invited to celebrate the establishment of the collection, meet the authors, and peruse the books. St. Helens Public Library is located at 375 S. 18th Street, St. Helens.

Immediately following the launch event, the St. Helens Writers Guild will hold a meeting in the Columbia Center auditorium from noon to 2 p.m. This is an opportunity for authors to share what they are working on, participate in creative writing exercises, and meet other local writers.

Additional Stories by the River Festival events include:

• Write-In hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

February 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at Beyond the Forest coffee shop, 230 S. 1^st Street, St. Helens

An opportunity to connect with other writers informally, talk about work in progress, and get some words down on the page. Led by local author Ellen Jacobson.

• St. Helens Public Library Book Club hosted by St. Helens Public Library

February 17 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Discuss the February book club pick "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" by bestselling author Benjamin Stevenson. Led by Library Assistant Tari Johnson.

• Author Panel: Pathways to Publishing hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

February 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Hear from local authors who have uncovered a variety of ways (from traditional to self-published and everything in-between) to go from a writer to an author. Learn how to get your words in front of other eyes and how to be published. Led by local author Mike Exinger.

• Late Night Write-In hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

February 20 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Connect with other writers informally, talk about works in progress, and get some words down during a special Feb"word"ary write-in. Bring money to chip in for pizza (optional). Led by local author Jana Mann.

• Open Mic Night hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

February 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Beyond the Forest coffee shop, 230 S. 1 Street, St. Helens

Enjoy readings by local authors, along with stand-up comedy and live music. Held monthly by Beyond the Forest.

• Whodunit? An Interactive Mystery Event hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

February 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Examine a crime scene, search for clues, and try to figure out the mystery in this interactive event. Led by cozy mystery authors Ellen Jacobson and Tamelia Aday.

• Writers Workshop: Finding Story Ideas hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

February 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

A workshop all about finding stories. Led by local author Jana Mann

• Pen and Perspective: In Conversation with Local Authors hosted by the St. Helens Public Library

March 3 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Attendees and interested readers will learn how local authors choose what to write about, their writing process, and hear short passages from books along with a Q&A time. Moderated by Library Director Suzanne Bishop.

• Writers Workshop: Kickstart Your Short Story hosted by Columbia County Authors Alliance

March 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

A hands-on workshop teaching story structure, helping develop ideas, and providing writing time. Perfect for short form fiction writers. Led by local author Sharon Hughson. Registration requested through the St. Helens Public Library's website at www.sthelensoregon.gov/library .

• Family Storytime with Local Authors hosted by St. Helens Public Library

March 7 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

A special storytime with Columbia County authors reading from their books, along with movement and singing. This is a special edition of the Library's monthly Family Storytime held the first Saturday of each month. Led by Youth Librarian Jana Wiersma.

• Feb"word"ary Writing Challenge Celebration hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

March 7 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street

Celebrate the completion of the Feb"word"ary writing challenge and listen to readings from participants. Led by local author Jana Mann.

• Adults and Crafts: Handmade Journals hosted by St. Helens Public Library

March 10 from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Make a handmade journal to record your writing ideas (or to write down whatever else you may need it for). Led by Library Technician Nicole Woodruff. Registration required through the St. Helens Public Library's website at www.sthelensoregon.gov/library .

• Write-In hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

March 1 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at Cathedral Coffee, 33555 E. Columbia Avenue, Scappoose

An opportunity to connect with other writers informally, talk about work in progress, and get some words down on the page. Led by local author Mike Exinger.

• Local Author Book Sale hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

March 14 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Meet local authors, buy books, and get them signed!

• Anthology Release Celebration hosted by the Columbia County Authors Alliance

March 14 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Columbia Center Auditorium, 375 S. 18^th Street, St. Helens

Celebrate the release of the inaugural Lower Columbia County Writers Anthology "Hidden World."

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For further information regarding the Columbia County Stories by the River Festival, please contact St. Helens Public Library Director Suzanne Bishop at [email protected] or 503-397-4544