While the Covid-19 pandemic halted plans for many annual gatherings over the past two years, literary festivals across Mississippi are planning to return in person for 2022. Mark your calendar for the following events, which include many free opportunities for the public to hear from major authors.
March 30-April 1: Oxford Conference for the Book in Oxford.
The Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi has organized the Oxford Conference for the Book every year since 1993.
Events will be held at various venues in Oxford and on the UM campus. It kicks off on Wednesday, March 30, with a welcome reception and a lecture by Imani Perry, author of “South to America: A Journey below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation.”
The program will culminate at Off Square Books on Sunday, April 1, with the presentation of the Willie Morris Awards in Southern Writing to Nathan Harris for his novel “The Sweetness of Water” and poet Monica Weatherly, along with a closing celebration.
Conference sessions are free and open to the public. The full schedule is listed at oxfordconferenceforthebook.com.
April 21-23: Southern Literary Festival in Columbus.
Mississippi University for Women will welcome writers from universities across the South for the long-running Southern Literary Festival. First held in 1937, the annual gathering is held at a different location each year with only two exceptions: World War II and Covid-19. MUW previously served as the host school in 2010.
Ashley M. Jones, the state poet laureate of Alabama, is the keynote speaker. Local writers confirmed to read and facilitate sessions include Mississippi State University professors Becky Hagenston and Michael Kardos, MUW professor Mary Miller and MUW alumni Alec Hawkins and C. T. Salazar.
For more information, visit southernliteraryfestival.net.
April 29: Glitterary Festival in Oxford.
The Glitterary Festival takes place during Oxford Pride. It describes itself as “a queer literary festival with a broad definition of what is literature and what is queer.” It is open to anyone interested in learning more about literature by and about the LGBTQIA community.
The program consists of a full day of free author and student panels at the Inn at Ole Miss, ending with a keynote featuring poets Jericho Brown and Torrin A. Greathouse.
Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at glitteraryfestival.com.
April 30: Independent Bookstore Day nationwide
Since 2013, independent bookstores across the country have celebrated Independent Bookstore Day with special giveaways, sales and events. Mississippi’s own Angie Thomas is this year’s author ambassador for the festivities.
Friendly City Books in Columbus is one of 872 bookstores involved this year — the most ever, according to organizers. A map of all participating locations is available at indiebound.org/independent-bookstore-day.
June 11: Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters annual banquet in Jackson.
Since 1980, the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters has honored Mississippi artists, musicians and writers with annual awards.
This year, five Golden Triangle residents have been nominated, including several from MSU. Becky Hagenston, Professor of English, was nominated in the fiction category for “The Age of Discovery.”
A new category for life writing includes Donald C. Jackson, Professor Emeritus of Fisheries, for “A Sportsman’s Journey.” In nonfiction, Alan I. Marcus, who leads MSU’s History Department, was nominated for “Land of Milk and Money: Creation of the Southern Dairy Industry.”
In the discipline of classical music composition, Clifton Taylor was recognized for “Five Mississippi Rush.” Dr. Taylor co-directs the Famous Maroon Band.
Finally, Columbus’ Thomas Richardson earned a nomination for his poetry collection “How to Read.”
The winners will be presented on Saturday, June 11 at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson. Tickets will go on sale at ms-arts-letters.org.
Aug. 20: Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson.
Nicknamed “a literary lawn party,” the Mississippi Book Festival draws thousands to the grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol. While it has been virtual for the past two years, organizers intend to convene in person this year on Saturday, Aug. 20.
In addition to over 40 author panels on fiction, nonfiction and poetry, the Mississippi Book Festival includes programming for kids with children’s book authors.
“The 2022 Mississippi Book Festival will have something for every type of reader,” Executive Director Ellen Daniels told The Dispatch. “We are excited to host book lovers, young and old, from all of the state at the literary lawn party once again.”
As many as 150 authors will be part of this free event. They will be announced at msbookfestival.com.
Oct. 27-29: Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium in Columbus.
Finally, MUW will once again host the Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium in the fall. This year’s gathering, which recognizes new work by a diverse group of Southern writers, will be its 34th annual event.
Sessions will be held in person and livestreamed online, and they are free and open to the public. Additional information will be available at muw.edu/welty.
Emily Liner is the owner and founder of Friendly City Books, an independent bookstore and press in Columbus.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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