The state’s premier literary festival just released this year’s lineup of authors and presenters, and it’s good.
The 15th annual Arkansas Literary Festival hosted by the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) kicks off on Thursday, April 26, and runs through Sunday, April 29 at various locations throughout the city. The weekend will feature dozens of presenters ranging from professors at New York University and Yale University to former NBA All-Stars.
A few of the authors we’re excited about are:
- Roger Armbrust, author of “Pressing Freedom”
- Laverne Bell-Tolliver, author of “The First Twenty Five”
- Molly McCully Brown, author of “The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded”
- Joe Barry Carroll, author of “Black American Voices: Shared Culture, Values, and Emotions”
- Carina Chocano, author of “You Play the Girl”
- Lee Conell, author of “Subcortical”
- Bryan Mealer, author of “The Kings of Big Spring: God, Oil and One Family’s Search for the American Dream”
- Frank Morrison, author of “Let the Children March”
- Darcy Pattison, author of “The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story”
- Trina Robbins, author of “Last Girl Standing”
- Bennett Sims, author of “White Dialogues”
- Stephanie Vanderslice, author of “The Geek’s Guide to the Writing Life”
- Wayne Wiegand, author of “The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism”
- Julia Whicker, author of “Wonderblood”
For the full list of authors who will be at the 2018 Lit Fest, click here. The full list of events for the fest will be published April 1, but in the meantime, here are a few of the events we’ve already penciled in on our calendars:
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An Evening with Sebastian Junger | April 28, 7 p.m.
Sebastian Junger is a renowned author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. (You might have seen his work in “Restrepo” or “The Perfect Storm.”) Junger will be giving the CALS J. N. Heiskell Distinguished Lecture for journalism as he talks through his immersive coverage of multiple wars and his literary and film ventures.
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The Queen of Rockabilly | April 26, 7 p.m.
The legendary Wanda Jackson will perform for an Arkansas Sounds concert at the Ron Robinson Theater. The following evening, Jackson will give a talk about her life as a performer and her autobiography, “Every Night Is Saturday Night: A Country Girl’s Journey to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”
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Author! Author! | April 27, 7 p.m.
Get the opportunity to rub elbows with your favorite authors during the annual Author! Author! meet-and-greet. Hors d’oeuvres will be served and libations will be flowing, so this is an adults-only type of party. Tickets are $25 in advance and $40 at the door.
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On Lou Reed | Date TBD
Author Anthony DeCurtis took a deep dive into the life of Lou Reed in his book “Lou Reed: A Life.” DeCurtis will talk about his experience being a contributing editor for Rolling Stone, being a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee, and being one of the only journalists Lou Reed could stand.
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Arkansas Rescue Dogs | Date TBD
Little Rock’s own Grace Vest will speak about her new book “Home Sweet Home,” telling the stories of local rescue dogs and the impact they have on their owner’s lives. Representatives from the Humane Society of Pulaski County will be onsite with adoptable pooches, too.
To purchase tickets for any of these events and to find out more about the 2018 festival, head to the Lit Fest website.