For the first time since 2009 I’m headed to the Festival of Faith & Writing at Calvin College! I’m excited, and if you’ve been to this festival you know why. When I’m not being an adoring audience member to headliners like Zadie Smith, George Saunders, Tobias Wolff and Kirstin Valdez Quade, or attempting to “coincidentally” be anywhere MT Anderson is, or having intense conversations with friends and peers I only get to see once in awhile, I’ll be on a couple of panels. Details here:

(exact details may be subject to change so double check your final schedule when you get there)

(also this probably goes without saying but you must be registered for the festival to attend any of it)

Thurs 1:45 p.m.: Writing Through the Ages, panel with Luci Shaw, Leslie Leyland Fields, and Jeanne Murray Walker – This panel features four writers of faith in each decade of life—from the 40’s through the 80’s—reflecting on the various seasons in their careers and also looking ahead. Themes include following one’s dreams, loneliness and persistence, the struggle to carve out room to write amidst family and job pressures, and the spiritual depth that can arise from waiting. Commons Annex, Lecture Hall

Sat 8:30 a.m. (RISE AND SHINE!☀️) Everyday Dystopias: YA Realism and the Meaning in the Ordinary – panel with Bryan Bliss & Kate Bassett – While popular trends in young adult fiction emphasize epic tales of survival, for most teens the true hero’s journey is just getting through the day. We’ll look at realism in young adult fiction and how it portrays the faithful, the searching, and the ways young characters are lost and found in our own familiar world. Covenant Fine Arts Center, Room 115

Hope to see you there!

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