[CANCELED] PEN America at the 2020 AWP Conference and Bookfair

PEN America has made the tough call not to attend the 2020 annual AWP Conference and Bookfair. We’re really very sorry not to see our Members and friends. We support the AWP Virtual Bookfair and hope you will, too. See you next year in Kansas City.

This winter, PEN America is proud to take part in the 2020 annual AWP Conference and Bookfair, with events at the Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The AWP Conference brings together the best and brightest of the literary world for the largest literary conference in North America. With more than 550 panels, readings, and lectures, the weekend will feature over 800 presses, journals, and literary organizations.

PEN America will present panels that tackle free expression and advocacy issues in the contemporary world as they affect the literary community. This year’s panels will focus on how to provide sanctuary to persecuted writers, how to navigate the publishing industry as a debut author, and how to write about racial injustice and capitalism through innovative lenses.

PEN America is thrilled to take part in this celebration of the literary community. Be sure to join us at Booth #1443 at the bookfair for the chance to meet PEN America staff, learn more about our work, and receive discounts on your membership and PEN America publications. The full schedule of events we are participating in is below.

Stop by Booth #1443 for discounted merchandise and to chat with our staff about the work PEN America does!

Making Sanctuary: Serving Persecuted Writers and Fostering Community
Room 302, Henry B. González Convention Center, Ballroom Level
Friday, March 6, 2020
1:45pm to 3:00pm

Join City of Asylum and PEN America in discussing how to launch community engagement initiatives, readings, and workshops that support persecuted writers. Panelists include City of Asylum writers-in-residence Tuhin Das and Osama Alomar, Rebecca Stump (PEN America) and Lucia LoTempio (City of Asylum).

Surviving Your First Year as a Debut Author
Room 217A, Henry B. González Convention Center, Meeting Room Level
Saturday, March 7, 2020
10:35am to 11:50am

Mimi Lok and José Olivarez will discuss pre- and post-publication life, how they balance their literary ambitions and the reality of the publishing industry, and what the future holds after an impressive debut. What’s next after your book is out in the world? How do you survive the highs and lows of being a debut author? What is it like to navigate your first book tour, reviews, and related publicity efforts? This conversation will be moderated by Katie Zanecchia (PEN America).

PEN Presents: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah & Rion Amilcar Scott
HemisFair Ballroom C1, Henry B. González Convention Center, Ballroom Level
Saturday, March 7, 2020
1:45pm to 3:00pm

PEN America is proud to present Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah in conversation with Rion Amilcar Scott for this year’s 2020 AWP Conference featured event. This conversation will be moderated by Katie Zanecchia (PEN America).