Events Calendar

Stories about everyday Americans may seem mundane on the surface—banal compared to heroic epics or sweeping romances. But with humor and sharp insight, these two National Book Awards–honored authors illustrate the unremarkable lives of their characters with great depth and significance. Join 2018 National Book Awards author Nafissa Thompson-Spires (Heads of the Colored People) and two-time National Book Awards author Adam Haslett (You Are Not a Stranger Here and Imagine Me Gone) as they discuss the vitality of stories that reflect the lives of everyday people, the struggles they face, and how humor can work to reveal deeper truths.

Literature is a useful tool for exploring our history, but how does a backdrop of war affect stories about love, family, prejudice, and more? Join 2014 NBA Fiction Finalist Anthony Doerr (All The Light We Cannot See) and 2017 NBA Fiction Longlister Charmaine Craig (Miss Burma) for a conversation on how stories of life and love in wartime can offer us fresh insight into history, and how fiction can evoke empathy and understanding where nonfiction sometimes fall short. This event will be moderated by the Foundation’s Executive Director Lisa Lucas.

How can fiction work to increase readers’ understanding of disenfranchised communities and shape discourse within those communities? At Boise State University, join 2018 National Book Awards–honored authors Rebecca Makkai (The Great Believers) and Nafissa Thompson-Spires (Heads of the Colored People) for a discussion on the portrayal of vulnerable people, the responsibilities of the fiction writer, and the emotional connections forged through literature.

With scores of books coming out each year and the seemingly endless expansion of the internet, the publishing landscape is more saturated with stories than ever before. Yet it can still feel difficult to find the types of books that speak to you in subject matter, style, and theme. Join 2018 National Book Awards–honored authors Rebecca Makkai (The Great Believers) and Nafissa Thompson-Spires (Heads of the Colored People) at The Community Library in Ketchum, Idaho for a discussion on writing the stories you want to see in the world, creating the conversations we should be having, and centering the lives of characters often neglected in literary fiction. The conversation will be moderated by author, teacher, and critical theorist Sarah Sentilles.

Continuing a long-running partnership with Rollins College, the Foundation will be back in Winter Park, Florida for the “Winter With the Writers” literary festival, presenting a joint reading that features 2018 National Book Awards–honored authors Jennifer Clement (Gun Love) and Daniel Gumbiner (The Boatbuilder). The conversation and Q&A will be moderated by Carol Frost, the Theodore Bruce and Barbara Lawrence Alfond Professor of English at Rollins College and director of the Winter With the Writers festival. Funding for this event is provided by Rollins College.

The Foundation will once again partner with Amherst College to bring NBA-honored authors to the campus LitFest, presenting a discussion between 2018 National Book Award Fiction Finalists Jamel Brinkley (A Lucky Man) and Brandon Hobson (Where The Dead Sit Talking), moderated by WNYC’s Cultural Critic and Editor of Special Projects Rebecca Carroll. Funding for this event is provided by Amherst College.