Writer, Oregonian columnist, author and comics expert Steve Duin will be giving a keynote address at the 2017 Terroir Creative Writing Festival.

Duin, who collaborated with comics artist Shannon Wheeler on Oil and Water , a graphic novel about the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, will be speaking about the Portland comics scene and how to write a graphic novel as a non-comics artist.

Duin is an award-winning columnist for The Oregonian and writes the Metro blog for the paper.

His talk will illuminate the current hubbub of activity and production in comics and graphic novels in Portland, considered to be the center of the industry at present.

Duin, who was previously scheduled to give a workshop, replaces Lidia Yuknavitch, who regretfully cancelled her visit due to scheduling conflicts.

Have you registered for the festival yet? Registration is open!