PORT TOWNSEND — One of the men behind the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, writer Jim Heynen, is back in town for a free reading at the Northwind Arts Center this Friday night.
Heynen, also known for his short-story collection The Man Who Kept Cigars in His Cap and his book of poetry, A Suitable Church, will step up at 7 p.m. at the center at 2409 Jefferson St.
Heynen moved to Port Townsend in the fall of 1976 to work for Centrum in its writing and gifted education programs.
Shortly after his arrival, he met with Joe Wheeler of Centrum and Dr. Bertram Levy for a casual dinner at which the Fiddle Tunes festival was conceived.
Besides directing the summer writing festival in Port Townsend, Heynen worked with Bertram in the first years of the Fiddle Tunes Festival.
In 1988, Heynen moved to Portland, Ore.; he then went to St. Paul, Minn., where he now lives.
Heynen’s recent books include the novel The Fall of Alice K. and several short-story collections, including The One-room Schoolhouse.
For more details about Heynen’s Friday reading and other free activities at Northwind, phone coordinator Bill Mawhinney at 360-437-9081 or visit www.NorthwindArts.org.
