Tickets are now on sale for the Orcas Island Lit Fest, an all-ages literary festival featuring a host of local and national authors happening at the Orcas Center from April 5th through 7th. If you spring for a weekend pass, you'll also enjoy a host of discounts at lots of local Orcas Island bars, restaurants, hotels, and gyms.

You can read all about the Lit Fest on its website, but some of the authors include:

• Therese Marie Mailhot
• Nicola Griffith
• Judith Thurman
• Mat Johnson
• Eric Puchner
• Tom Barbash
• Rick Barot
• Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith

That's a mix of memoirists, poets, YA authors, sci-fi authors, and novelists — both bestsellers and critically acclaimed writers.

The Fest will include an opening-night literary walk including events all around Orcas Island's main village of Eastsound, a book fair, panels, readings, and a special event for kids at the local library.

Look: I've said before and I'll say again that Seattle doesn't need a literary festival. We've got more quality literary events going on on any given night than any human could possibly hope to attend. What we do need are literary festivals that celebrate this region and which provide access to great literature and brilliant authors in an intimate and supportive setting. In other words, we need more festivals like this one.

Get your tickets today.