Spring Literary Festival returns to Cullowhee with Pulitzer Prize winner, bestsellers
The 22nd Spring Literary Festival returns to Western Carolina University April 1-5, with 13 writers and authors scheduled to attend.
The festival has a long tradition of bringing writers to the community and university, highlighting both Appalachian literature and national talent. There will be approximately three events per day, including book signings, panels, readings, and more. All events are free and open to the public and will take place in the Hinds University Center鈥檚 theater.
The director of the festival, Jeremy Jones, said the festival is an essential part of the artistic and academic landscape in Cullowhee. 鈥淲e believe the festival is a way to travel to other places while also learning about our region,鈥� Jones says. 鈥淕ood literature transports, so the festival is an easy 鈥� and cheap 鈥� way to travel and learn about the world around us, and to do it with the writer before you as the guide.鈥�
This year鈥檚 schedule:
Monday, April 1
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Noon 鈥� Gilbert-Chappell mentees and poet Mildred Kiconco Barya, the author of four poetry collections, including 鈥淭he Animals of My Earth School,鈥� and the winner of the Ugandan National Book Trust Award.
Jeff Goodell. Photo by Matt Valentine.
- 4 p.m. 鈥� Maria Zoccola, the author of the upcoming poetry collection 鈥淗elen of Troy (1993),鈥� and Amy M. Alvarez, the author of 鈥淢akeshift Altar,鈥� a poetry collection releasing February 2024.
- 7:30 p.m. 鈥� Jeff Goodell, the bestselling author of 鈥淭he Heat Will Kill You First鈥� and 鈥淭he Water Will Come,鈥� as well as five other books. A contributing editor of 鈥淩olling Stone,鈥� he has appeared on MSNBC, CNN and NPR as a commentator on environmental issues.
Tuesday, April 2
- Noon 鈥� Live recording of the podcast 鈥淩ead Appalachia,鈥� with host Kendra Winchester joined by regional authors Ron Rash and Ann Pancake.
- 4 p.m. 鈥� Lyz Lenz, the author of the upcoming memoir 鈥淭his American Ex-Wife,鈥� and Carter Sickels, the author of 鈥淭he Prettiest Star and The Evening Hour.鈥�
- 7:30 p.m. 鈥� Ann Pancake, the author of the novel 鈥淪trange As This Weather Has Been,鈥� as well as two short story collections, and the winner of the Bread Loaf Bakeless Prize.
Wednesday, April 3
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Noon 鈥� Winners of the high school, undergraduate and graduate creative writing competitions will read from their work.
Maurice Ruffin
- 4 p.m. 鈥� Sarah Viren, the author of 鈥淭o Name the Bigger Lie: A Memoir in Two Stories鈥� and 鈥淢ine: Essays,鈥� and Kerry Howley, author of 鈥淏ottoms Up and the Devil Laughs鈥� and finalist of the National Book Critics Circle nonfiction award.
- 7 p.m. 鈥� Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of 鈥淲e Cast a Shadow,鈥� 鈥淭he Ones Who Don鈥檛 Say They Love You,鈥� and 鈥淭he American Daughters,鈥� which releases this February. Ruffin is the winner of the 2023 Louisiana Book Award and was a finalist for the 2020 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Thursday, April 4
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Noon 鈥� Breaking into Publishing panel featuring Robin Miura, Kate McMullen, Laura Traister, and Lauren Harr.
Jericho Brown
- 4 p.m. 鈥� Ariel Francisco, author of upcoming 鈥淎ll the Places We Love Have Been Left in Ruins鈥� and three other poetry collections, and Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, one of the founding members of the Undocupoets and author of 鈥淐hildren of the Land: A Memoir鈥� and 鈥淒ulce.鈥�
- 7:30 p.m. 鈥� Jericho Brown, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 鈥淭he Tradition,鈥� 鈥淧lease,鈥� and 鈥淭he New Testament.鈥�
Friday, April 5
- 7:00 p.m. 鈥� Calliope Stage Company presents a staged reading of this year鈥檚 script competition: Sharon Mathis鈥� 鈥淲eb.鈥�
The festival is made possible by local and national supporters, including the North Carolina Arts Council, 91热爆网鈥檚 2023-2024 Community and Belongingness campus theme, South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of English Studies.
For more information, visit or contact 91热爆网鈥檚 Department of English Studies at 828-227-7264.
