The Nature of Words announced its feature authors for the 2012 literary festival. Participants range from renowned storytellers, science-fiction writers and poets to conservation biologists and social activists. Ayad Akhtar is the author of countless screenplays, and released his first novel, American Dervish in January 2012. He was the co-writer and lead actor in The War Within, which was nominated for several awards and released internationally.

Jean Auel is best known for her Earth’s Children books, a fictional series that explores the interactions between Cro-Magnon people and Neanderthals in prehistoric Europe. Auel will be honored with the Caldera Special Recognition Award during the festival.

Sherwin Bitsui is the recipient of seven awards for his book Flood Song, including a 2010 PEN Open Book Award and an American Book Award. He is originally from the Navajo Reservation in White Cone, Arizona.

Tracy Daugherty has authored four novels, four short story collections, a book of personal essays and two biographies. He has won the Oregon Book Award four times, and helped found the Masters of Fine Arts Program at Oregon State University.

Brian Doyle is a five-time finalist for the Oregon Book Award, and his book Two Voices won a Christopher Award and a Catholic Press Association Book Award. He is the editor of Portland Magazine.

Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist with research and activities on a truly global stage. His book, The Impenetrable Forest, won the USA Book News Award in 2008 for nature writing.

Michael Meade, D.H.L., is an author of mythology, anthropology and psychology. He has written several novels and is the founder of Mosaic Multicultural Foundation, a nonprofit group that encourages greater understanding between diverse peoples.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil is the author of three poetry collections, one which has garnered the Balcones Prize and another that has won the Tupelo Press Prize. She teaches creative writing and environmental literature at State University of New York-Fredonia.

Paisley Rekdal has authored a book of essays and four books of poetry. Her work has received seven awards including a Fulbright Fellowship, a Pushcart Prize and a NEA Fellowship.

Kevin Gordon is a Nashville musician with five CDs in his discography. His most recent album, Gloryland, has received high critical success from sources including Rolling Stone Magazine and the New York Times.

The festival will be held November 7-11 in Bend, and will include a gala author dinner with acclaimed speaker Dan Wieden, the co-founder of Wieden+Kennedy and Caldera Arts. www.thenatureofwords.org.