Conference Schedule
Join us in-person and online from March 25–27, 2026, for the 57th Annual UND Writers Conference, "Fables & Futures."
All events at the UND Writers Conference are free and open to the public. In-person events will be held in the UND Memorial Union Building, unless indicated otherwise.
The UND Writers Conference is pleased to provide parking for our community members, off-campus guests, and alumni. The official parking area for the Writers Conference is the parking ramp at the intersection of University Avenue and Columbia Road.
All panel discussions, author readings, and artist talks will be held in-person and simultaneously live-streamed via Zoom, with live captioning provided. For conference registration information, please visit the "About" page for this year's Writers Conference.
Daily Conference Schedule
All events in the schedule below are in Central Time. We will update this schedule with further details as we finalize our featured authors' itineraries.
| TIME | EVENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM |
Reading: Ananda Lima Introduction: Dr. Courtney Kersten, Assistant Professor of English & Creative Writing Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 11:15 AM |
Coffee Break Enjoy continued conversation about this year's conference events over complimentary coffee and snacks, provided by the UND Writers Conference. |
In-person only: Exhibit Area / outside UND Memorial Union Ballroom |
| 12:00 PM |
Panel Discussion: "Fables for Our Times" Sponsored by University Federal Credit Union Panelists: George Saunders, Maria Dahvana Headley, Amber Sparks, and Ananda Lima Moderator: Anna Kinney, Coordinator of the University Writing Program |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 2:15 PM |
Community Craft Session: with featured author Ananda Lima Community Craft Session: with memoirist Courtney Kersten Please register in advance for in-person attendance, to book your spot in the community craft sessions! |
In-person only: UND Memorial Union, Meeting Rooms |
| 2:15 PM |
North Dakota Museum of Art Gallery Tour Join NDMOA curator Anna Arnar for a tour of the museum's current exhibits—including "Fables, Myths, Cosmologies, and the Stories We Tell" |
In-person only: North Dakota Museum of Art, on the UND Campus Student volunteers at the information desk will be able to direct you to the NDMOA. |
| 3:15 PM |
Coffee Break Enjoy continued conversation about this year's conference events over complimentary coffee and snacks, provided by the UND Writers Conference. |
In-person only: Exhibit Area / outside UND Memorial Union Ballroom |
| 4:00 PM |
Artist's Talk: Beatriz Cortez
|
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 6:00 PM |
Community Open Mic Night Sign up for a reading slot on-site; no advanced registration required. |
In-person only: UND Memorial Union Ballroom. |
| 8:00 PM |
George Saunders, in Conversation with Amber Sparks John Little Memorial Endowment Special Fiction Event Introduction: Dr. Andrew Armacost, President, University of North Dakota Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 9:30 PM |
Reception We warmly invite all conference attendees to join us at the evening reception, following the 8:00 reading. |
In-person only: North Dakota Museum of Art |
| TIME | EVENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM |
Panel Discussion: "Fables, Futures, & Creative Professions" Special Panel on Writing, Art, Publishing, and Creative Professions Panelists: Beatriz Cortez, Ananda Lima, Amber Sparks, and Penelope Burns Moderator: Dr. Bill Caraher, Editor of North Dakota Quarterly and Associate Professor of History |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 11:15 AM |
Coffee Break Enjoy continued conversation about this year's conference events over complimentary coffee and snacks, provided by the UND Writers Conference. |
In-person only: Exhibit Area / outside UND Memorial Union Ballroom |
| 12:00 PM |
Panel Discussion: "Fables & Our Communities" Panelists: Maria Dahvana Headley, Anna Maria Hong, Megan Kamalei Kakimoto, and Roque Raquel Salas Rivera |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 2:15 PM |
Community Craft Session: with featured author Amber Sparks Community Craft Session: with featured literary agent Penelope Burns Please register in advance for in-person attendance, to book your spot in the community craft sessions! |
In-person only: UND Memorial Union, Meeting Rooms |
| 3:15 PM |
Coffee Break Enjoy continued conversation about this year's conference events over complimentary coffee and snacks, provided by the UND Writers Conference. |
In-person only: Exhibit Area / outside UND Memorial Union Ballroom |
| 4:00 PM |
Reading: Amber Sparks Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 6:00 PM |
UND Writing, Editing, & Publishing Showcase Host: Floodwall, the student-run literary magazine of the University of North Dakota |
In-person only: UND Memorial Union Ballroom. |
| 8:00 PM |
Reading: Maria Dahvana Headley Introduction: Dr. Michelle Sauer, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of English Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 9:30 PM |
Reception We warmly invite all conference attendees to join us at the evening reception, following the 8:00 reading. |
In-person only: North Dakota Museum of Art |
| TIME | EVENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM |
Reading: Roque Raquel Salas Rivera Introduction: Dr. Enrique Muñoz-Manta, Teaching Assistant Professor of Spanish Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 11:15 AM |
Coffee Break Enjoy continued conversation about this year's conference events over complimentary coffee and snacks, provided by the UND Writers Conference. |
In-person only: Exhibit Area / outside UND Memorial Union Ballroom |
| 12:00 PM |
Panel Discussion: "Fables & Futures: Imagining Our World" Panelists: Anna Maria Hong, Megan Kamalei Kakimoto, Ananda Lima, and Roque Raquel Salas Rivera Moderator: Dr. Enrique Muñoz-Manta, Teaching Assistant Professor of Spanish |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 2:15 PM |
Community Craft Session: with featured author Megan Kamalei Kakimoto Community Craft Session: with featured author Roque Raquel Salas Rivera Community Craft Session: Workshop—"Future Cities," with Vitoria Faccin-Herman, Assistant Professor of Art &
Design Please register in advance for in-person attendance, to book your spot in the community craft sessions! |
In-person only: UND Memorial Union, Meeting Rooms |
| 3:15 PM |
Coffee Break Enjoy continued conversation about this year's conference events over complimentary coffee and snacks, provided by the UND Writers Conference. |
In-person only: Exhibit Area / outside UND Memorial Union Ballroom |
| 4:00 PM |
Reading: Anna Maria Hong Introduction: Dr. Crystal Alberts, Professor of English Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 6:00 PM |
Community Open Mic Night Sign up for a reading slot on-site; no advanced registration required. |
In-person only: UND Memorial Union Ballroom. |
| 8:00 PM |
Reading: Megan Kamalei Kakimoto Book signing to follow in the Exhibit Area. |
In-person: UND Memorial Union Ballroom Online: Livestreamed via Zoom |
| 9:30 PM |
Reception We warmly invite all conference attendees to join us at the evening reception, following the 8:00 reading. |
In-person only: North Dakota Museum of Art |