(New York, NY) — PEN America today announced the winter 2021 lineup for its PEN Out Loud author conversation series. This season, open to a virtual audience worldwide, shifts our focus inward—generously interrogating our capacity for passion and desire, grief and resilience, nourishment and love, and reflection and hope. Writers featured in this unique one-on-one format include R.O. Kwon, Garth Greenwell, Brandon Taylor, Melissa Febos, Brandon Hobson, Rebecca Makkai, Kazuo Ishiguro, Jia Tolentino, Isabel Allende, and Concepción de León.

“Following a fraught year in which we were challenged to reckon with our past, confront our present, and re-imagine our future, we turn to literature and these profoundly talented authors to engage our minds and reconnect with our common humanity,” said PEN America’s Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, senior director of literary programs. “Despite the challenges of the last year, it was a delight this fall to expand the reach of our national literary series to a global digital audience. For the winter season, we’ve built on that success and have brought in new partners nationwide to provide vital conversations among essential, diverse voices.”

PEN Out Loud is co-presented with Strand Book Store and Scripps Presents. Each event will include live sign interpretation.

R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell, editors of the forthcoming book Kink, in conversation with Melissa Febos and Brandon Taylor
 Tuesday, February 9 at 8pm ET/5pm PT
This is a book launch event

Brandon Hobson, author of the forthcoming book The Removed, in conversation with Rebecca Makkai
 Tuesday, February 16 at 8pm ET/5pm PT

Kazuo Ishiguro, author of the forthcoming book Klara and the Sun, in conversation with Jia Tolentino
 Thursday, March 4 at 6pm ET/3pm PT
Co-presented with the Asian American Writers’ Workshop 

Isabel Allende, author of the forthcoming book The Soul of a Woman, in conversation with Concepción de León
 Monday, March 8 at 8pm ET/5pm PT

Tickets are on sale now.

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephen Fee, [email protected] | +1 202 309 8892

The Asian American Writers’ Workshop, Austin Public Library Foundation, Magic City Poetry Festival, Miami Book Fair, and Magic City Books are regional partners of PEN Out Loud’s Winter 2021 season. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.