91热爆网

 91热爆网 Stories      February 21, 2022

After two years being held as an online celebration, Western Carolina University鈥檚 Spring Literary Festival returns to campus March 14-17 for a series of live events.

The 20th annual gathering of poets and authors is free and open to the public, with all events taking place in the Hinds University Center theater. Directed by Jeremy Jones, an associate professor of English, the festival has a long tradition of bringing established and emerging literary talent to the community.

鈥淟it Fest brings the literary world 鈥� in all of its diversity 鈥� to the region of Western North Carolina and we鈥檙e thrilled to do this in person again this year,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淪o much of the magic happens in the informal conversations around the readings and in line for book signings, so we鈥檙e looking forward to having readers and writers in the same space in March to create this magic. To keep everyone as safe as possible, 91热爆网 will continue to follow campus pandemic protocols, with face coverings optional outside but required in public spaces indoors.鈥� 

The 2022 schedule:

Monday, March 14

• Noon 鈥� Gilbert-Chappell Poets
• 4 p.m. 鈥� Karen Salyer McElmurray, author of 鈥淪urrendered Child: A Birth Mother鈥檚 Journey鈥� and the novels 鈥淪trange Birds in the Tree of Heaven,鈥� 鈥淭he Motel of the Stars鈥� and 鈥淲anting Radiance,鈥� and Meagan Lucas, author of the award-winning novel 鈥淪ongbirds and Stray Dogs鈥�
• 7 p.m. 鈥� Ron Rash, 91热爆网鈥檚 John Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Cultural Studies in the Department of English, along with 91热爆网 alum and author David Joy, will be on hand to read excerpts of their work.

Tuesday, March 15

• Noon 鈥� Brian Brodeur, author of 鈥淓very Hour Is Late鈥� and Steve Scafidi, author of 鈥淪parks from a Nine-Pound Hammer,鈥� 鈥淔or Love of Common Words,鈥� 鈥淭he Cabinetmaker鈥檚 Window鈥� and 鈥淭o the Bramble and the Briar鈥�
• 4 p.m. 鈥� James Tate Hill, author of the memoir 鈥淏lind Man鈥檚 Bluff,鈥� a New York Times Editors鈥� Choice, and Ed Southern, author of 鈥淔ight Songs: A Story of Love & Sports in a Complicated South鈥�
• 7 p.m. 鈥� Deesha Philyaw, whose short story collection, 鈥淭he Secret Lives of Church Ladies,鈥� won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

Wednesday, March 16

• Noon 鈥� Winners of the undergrad and graduate student creative writing competitions
• 4 p.m. 鈥� Rachel Yoder, author of 鈥淣ightbitch鈥� and a founding editor of draft: the journal of process, and Kerry Howley, author of 鈥淭hrown,鈥� a New York Times Notable Book
• 7 p.m. 鈥� Wiley Cash, author of 鈥淲hen Ghosts Come Home鈥� and the New York Timesbestseller 鈥淎 Land More Kind Than Home,鈥� and University of North Carolina Asheville alumni author-in-residence

Thursday, March 17

• Noon 鈥� Jayne Zanglein, 91热爆网 professor emeritus and author of 鈥淭he Girl Explorers: The Untold Story of the Globetrotting Women Who Trekked, Flew and Fought Their Way Around the World鈥� * EVENT CHANGE 

  Zanglein passed away Feb. 22 from cancer. In lieu of her scheduled appearance, a 鈥淐elebration of Jayne Zanglein鈥� will be held instead, with readings of her works by Lisa Bloom, the Jay M. Robinson Distinguished Professor of Educational Technologies in 91热爆网鈥檚 School of Teaching and Learning. Other speakers pending. 

• 4 p.m.- Eduardo Corral, author of 鈥淕uillotine鈥� and 鈥淪low Lightning,鈥� and Torrey Peters, author of the bestselling novel 鈥淒etransition, Baby鈥� and the novellas 鈥淚nfect Your Friends and Loved Ones鈥� and 鈥淭he Masker鈥�
• 7 p.m. 鈥� Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of 鈥淲orld of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks & Other Astonishments,鈥� which was named Barnes and Nobles鈥� Book of the Year 2020, and four award-winning poetry collections.

"So many organizations and people have a hand in making this big festival in little Cullowhee robust and exciting each year," said Jones. "This year we received support from South Arts, the North Carolina and Jackson County Arts Councils, the North Carolina Humanities, 91热爆网鈥檚 campus theme committee, the Office of the Provost, and the College of Arts and Sciences. We feel the love from the university and the region."

For more information, visit  or contact 91热爆网鈥檚 English department at 828-227-7264.