Choctaw Culture Panel
Panelists: Eddie Johnson, Rae Nell Vaughn, & Jay Wesley
Moderator: Patrick Dean
Learn about the folklore and customs of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians from the co-authors of the newly updated book Choctaw Tales and its companion Choctaw Traditions.
9:15 am - 10:00 am
Community Read Panel
Keynote: Wright Thompson
Moderator: John Spann
Join us for a discussion on The Barn, an in-depth investigation into the lynching of Emmett Till, which received the Book of the Year Award from the Mississippi Historical Society.
10:00 - 10:30 am
Nonfiction Panel
Panelists: Jaz Brisack, Robert W. Fieseler, Adam Gussow, & Jason McCall
Moderator: Ellen Ann Fentress
Discover new books from Southern authors on a range of diverse topics, from social movements and Cold War history to personal memoir and essays on pop culture.
11:15 am - Noon
Rooted Panel
Panelists: Nadia Alexis, Benjamin Morris, & Julie Liddell Whitehead
Moderator: Lauren Rhoades
What does it mean to be a Mississippi transplant, expat, or native? Writers representing each niche discuss how they define home and cultivate community in this panel curated by Rooted Magazine.
Noon - 12:45 pm
Global Stories Panel
Panelists: Karol Lagodzki, Nana Nkweti, & John Zheng
Moderator: Theo Hummer
Books take you places, allowing readers to travel the world within their pages — and often we discover how much we have in common. These authors from Poland, Cameroon, and China will discuss what makes stories both specific and universal.
1:15 - 2:00 pm
Mystery Panel
Panelists: William Boyle & Snowden Wright
The best mysteries captivate readers with iconic characters, shocking twists, and a compelling setting. These two writers will share how they create a strong sense of place, from New York City to Meridian, Mississippi.
2:00 - 2:45 pm
Horror Panel
Panelists: Mel Anderson & Jen Julian
Moderator: Becky Hagenston
Horror and speculative fiction are having a renaissance. From social commentary and feminine rage to good old jump scares, readers are finding validation and catharsis in dark literature like never before.
3:15 - 4:00 PM
Romance Panel
Panelists: Karmen Lee, Farrah Rochon, Alexandra Vasti, & Meryl Wilsner
Moderator: Christina Spann
Romance novels are exploding in popularity as readers gobble up stories that center diverse characters in fresh takes on classic tropes. Join us for a gab session about why we love love!
4:00 - 4:45 pm