The 2021 festival will be a mixture of virtual and in-person events (see details in grid below and notes in red). Please register here if you plan to attend any of the virtual events: https://wnmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vdOqrqz4rHdCpRm2qGJbr1EdmeYA1TIbY All events are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021. 6:30-9:00 p.m. Light Hall, WNMU.

Showing of “Words From a Bear” – documentary about writer N. Scott Momaday. The program will begin with readings from N. Scott Momaday’s works, followed by the movie showing.

Wednesday Oct 20, 2021. 4:00-6:30 p.m. Miller Library, WNMU.

“Hillerman Day” – a celebration of the life and work of Tony and Anne Hillerman. Readings and presentations by Anne Hillerman and James McGrath Morris, author of Tony Hillerman: A Life. Photo exhibit by Barney Hillerman. This face-to-face event will also be broadcast live on Zoom. https://wnmu.zoom.us/j/89233355174

Thursday Oct 21, 2021. 6:00-8:00 p.m. Light Hall, WNMU.

Jack Crocker in Conversation with JJ Amaworo Wilson. Silver City and Grant County Poet Laureate emeritus Jack Crocker and WNMU writer-in-residence JJ Amaworo Wilson discuss their latest books: The Algorithm of I (Jack Crocker) & Nazaré (JJ Amaworo Wilson), followed by book sales and signing. Refreshments will be served on the patio 6:00-7:00. Program starts 7:00. This face-to-face event will also be broadcast live on Zoom. https://wnmu.zoom.us/j/89233355174

Friday, October 22, 2021

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Sunday, October 24, 2021

*Sponsored by New Mexico Humanities Council

Session descriptions

Friday Oct 22, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Keynote: Art and activism/Art or Activism?
Rick Bass
How to inhabit the dream of fiction even when you are beset by a world of distractions: an activist’s lament, an activist‘s gratitude.

Friday Oct 22, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Advice for Novelists
Denise Chávez, Brandon Hobson, Kris Neri
Three outstanding authors discuss the art of writing novels. They will offer advice for aspiring novelists and answer questions.

Friday Oct 22, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Health
Dara Saville, Katherine E. Standefer
Dara Saville and Katherine E. Standefer have both written groundbreaking books that explore different elements of health. Come and find out about their vital work.

Friday Oct 22, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Poetry
Jack Crocker, Naomi Shihab Nye, Elise Stuart
Three acclaimed poets with diverse backgrounds read their work and answer questions.

Friday Oct 22, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Face to face at Miller Library, WNMU and livestreamed
Fiction
Catalina Claussen, Phillip Parotti, Peter Riva
Acclaimed authors Claussen, Parotti, and Riva read from recently published fiction.

Friday Oct 22, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The Felipe de Ortego y Gasca presentation: Writing and Activism
Sheila Black, Carmen Tafolla, Sergio Troncoso
In our annual session honoring Felipe Ortego y Gasca, founding father of the Chicano Renaissance, three award-winning writers discuss the juncture between writing and activism.

Saturday Oct 23, 10:00 – 11:00
Poetry
Beate Sigriddaughter, Carmen Tafolla, Connie Voisine
Three widely published and highly acclaimed poets read their work and answer questions.

Saturday Oct 23, 10:00 – 11:00
Fiction
Sergio Troncoso, Kirstin Valdez Quade
Two multi-award winning fiction writers discuss and read from their latest work and answer questions. 

Saturday Oct 23, 11:30-12:30
Book business
Bobby & Lee Byrd of Cinco Puntos Press, Susan Gardner of Red Mountain Press
Legendary founding editors/publishers discuss the highs and lows of running independent publishing houses in the Southwest.

Saturday Oct 23, 11:30-12:30
Journalism: women on women
Mónica Ortiz Uribe, Lauren Villagran
Journalists Ortiz Uribe and Villagran discuss their experiences reporting on the Southwest, with a particular focus on issues affecting women.

Saturday Oct 23, 2:30-3:30 Face to face at Miller Library, WNMU and livestreamed
Banned Books readings
WNMU students
As part of an annual event celebrating freedom of speech, WNMU students from Professor Heather Frankland’s class read from banned works.

Saturday Oct 23, 2:30-3:30
Mystery novels
Katayoun Medhat, Kris Neri
Star mystery novelists Medhat and Neri read from and discuss their latest works and answer questions about the genre.

Saturday Oct 23, 4:00-5:00
The Sussillo-Mahler Environmental History panel
Phil Connors, Jack Loeffler, Laura Paskus
This year’s environmental panel, named in honor of two much-loved and much-missed friends of the festival and the environment, includes award-winning trio Connors, Loeffler, and Paskus discussing their books on environmental history.

Saturday Oct 23, 4:00-5:00
Advice for writers: What makes good writing good?
Peter Riva, Sharman Apt Russell, Lauren Villagran, Connie Voisine
An agent/author/publisher, a renowned writer in several genres, a journalist, and a poet discuss the commonalities of good writing across different genres.

Saturday Oct 23, 5:30-6:30 Face to face at Tranquilbuzz Cafe, Silver City
Open mic
Our regular open mic session showcases our incredible local talent. Bring your poems and short stories and tear it up!

Saturday Oct 23, 4:00-5:00
Fiction
Brandon Hobson, Adrienne Celt
Two outstanding novelists based in the Southwest discuss their work and answer questions.

Sunday Oct 24, 10:00 – 11:00 Face to face at Light Art Space Gallery, Silver City
The Richard Felger Memorial Presentation: “Let’s not go there”: writing about the sadness of the world
Sharman Apt Russell
How do we write about that which seems too terrible, too frightening, too overwhelming to write about? Global warming, racism, sexism, domestic abuse, war. How do we write about pain and stay joyous as writers? In truth, we have no choice. Our poems and stories and essays must and will include pain and conflict, and we must and will remain joyous and centered in our work. Sharman’s recent book on childhood malnutrition and stunting took over thirty years to write and involved some strategies that surprised her. A subplot here is the writer’s relationship to the publishing world.

This presentation is named in honor of ethnobotanist, poet, and author Richard Felger.

Sunday Oct 24, 10:00 – 11:00
Essays
John Fayhee, Josh Wheeler
Two outstanding non-fiction authors who write about the Southwest, and New Mexico in particular, discuss and read from their work and answer questions.

Sunday Oct 24, 11:30 – 12:30
History
Cynthia Orozco, Veronica Tiller
Orozco and Tiller discuss their groundbreaking work and its relevance today, with a particular focus on the histories of marginalized communities.

Sunday Oct 24, 11:30 – 12:30
Poetry
Sheila Black, Levi Romero, Allison Waterman
Black, Waterman, and Romero, who is New Mexico’s inaugural Poet Laureate, read from their work and answer questions.

Sunday Oct 24, 1:00 – 2:00 Face to face at Light Art Space Gallery, Silver City
Book launch: Pink Cadillacs: Life is a Convertible Experience
Eve West Bessier
Eve West Bessier will read from her newly released Pink Cadillacs: Short Stories (Falcon West Books, 2021). This collection includes magical realism, journeys of the heart, road trips, and even The World’s Largest Ball of Bras. Eve’s presentation promises to be engaging, lightened with a touch of humor, and may include a cappella jazz vocals.