English Department joins Southern Festival of Books – October 17-18
The 2026 Southern Festival of Books, presented by Vanderbilt University in partnership with Humanities Tennessee, will connect celebrated authors from wide-ranging genres with a vast community that shares their passion for creative expression. Many writers and performers with Vanderbilt ties will be featured at the annual literary festival, which returns to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, Tennessee State Museum, and Tennessee State Library and Archives October 17–18. Admission is free.
Some highlights from the English Department:
- MFA Student Reading featuring Josie Abugov, Christiana Castillo, Nain Christopherson, Kinsale Drake, Danielle Emerson, Virginia Kane, Lana Reeves, Kanchi Sharma on October 18, 1:00 PM
- MFA Faculty Reading featuring Su Cho, Didi Jackson, Rick Hilles on October 17, 1:00 PM
- I Would Define the Sun by Stephanie Niu, who was awarded the 2024 Vanderbilt Literary Prize. She will appear with Melissa Range, the 2025 Prize honoree and author of Printer’s Fist, to share some of their work. The presentation is at 3:00 PM on October. 17 in the Tennessee State Library’s Nolichucky Room.
- Lydi Conklin, assistant professor of English, at 3:00 PM in the Tennessee State Library’s Obion Room. Her debut novel, Songs of No Provenance, is an exploration of queer identity and the role of art in becoming one’s self.
- Emily Lordi, Edwin Mims Professor of English and author of Holding Lightning: The Life, Loves, and Art of Whitney Houston, at 10:00 AM in the Tennessee State Museum’s Sequatchie Room. Holding Lighting is the first full-length biography of the superstar singer and actress.