Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series

The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series is an annual program that hosts local and nationally renowned writers for craft lectures and public readings. The first events were held in the early 1970s, and over the years, many of the most prestigious names in literature—Robert Pinsky, Lucille Clifton, Scott Russell Sanders, Mark Doty, Camille Dungy, and Terry Tempest Williams, to name a few—have made appearances in Fairbanks. All events are free and open to the public!

Joseph Holt is Director of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series for the 2023–24 academic year.

 

Upcoming Speakers

  • Apr15

    Caleb Tankersley & Julie Iromuanya

      Schaible Auditorium & via Zoom
      7:00 p.m.
    The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series presents a literary reading from fiction writers Caleb Tankersley and Julie Iromuanya. Caleb Tankersley is author of the story collection Sin Eaters, recipient of the 2021 Permafrost Book Prize, and a Visiting Assistant Professor at St. Thomas University in St. Paul. Julie Iromuanya is the author of Mr. and Mrs. Doctor and an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago. Each author will read for about twenty minutes and participate in an Q&A period.

    Zoom option available:

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    Events

     

    Midnight Sun logo
    We're happy to debut the new logo for the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series. It was designed by undergraduate student Marina Gonzalez Mazo. Thanks to a Supplies & Services Award from Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity, we will be distributing promotional material featuring the new logo during the next academic year.

     

     

     

     

    Dead Writers

     

    The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series also hosts the Dead Writers reading during the Halloween season. Participants—including many of our MFA students and faculty—deliver readings from the work of their favorite deceased writers, often in full creepy costume. The event includes raffle prizes and awards such Best Costume and Best Performance. Dead Writers, which originated in 1990, raises additional funds to bring visiting writers to Fairbanks.

    Cover charge for this event is $5 for Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ students and $10 for all others. All of the proceeds go to the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series which brings up incredible authors and poets to our community.

     

     

    For more information about Dead Writers or the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series, please contact Jake Knuth .