Community Discussion Series
52nd Annual UND Writers Conference Discussion Group
The 52nd Annual UND Writers Conference will be held March 24-26, 2021. While we're not able to host our community discussion group this year because of the pandemic (the UND faculty and Grad Students who usually lead these events are very busy with their students & doing their best to keep up with the demands of COVID teaching), we hope that each of you will find a way to join a safe, socially-distanced or Zoom group to discuss the works of our invited authors before the start of the Conference! And, we'll do our best to be back next year...thank you for understanding!
Books
Books for the 2021 Writers Conference will be on sale at the UND Bookstore and Ferguson Books and Media. Some or all may also be available for check out at local libraries, including Grand Forks Public, East Grand Forks Campbell Library, and UND's Chester Fritz Library Community members may use the Chester Fritz Library!
About UND Writers Conference Community Discussion Series
Formerly UND Writers Conference 101. This spring, the UND Writers Conference celebrates its 49th anniversary. In 1970, the late John Little, a professor in UND’s English Department, was missing some of his literary friends from the South. He decided to invite them to share their words here in North Dakota, and thus a rich artistic tradition began. Since that first conference, some of the most laudable names in literature have visited the UND campus, including Allen Ginsberg, Truman Capote, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Louise Erdrich, Roxane Gay, Sherman Alexie, Sir Salman Rushdie, Alice Walker, as well as a number of this year's participants.
Around 2000 lovers of literature from all over North Dakota, as well as beyond our borders descend on the campus to listen to panel discussions, readings, and ask their questions of nationally and internationally prominent authors.
Free and Open to the Public
The UND Writers Conference Community Discussion Series is not a UND course. It is free and open to all! Attend one or attend them all, it's up to you! In fact, the UND Writers Conference Community Discussion Series is designed to get you acquainted with some of the authors whom you might not know. Even the most voracious reader may not be familiar with the work of some of these award-winning writers. In fact, conference planners frequently receive praise for introducing readers to writing that challenges and inspires. But, wouldn’t it be nice to be acquainted with the work before the author arrives?
Questions?
Contact:
Crystal Alberts
Director, UND Writers Conference
777-2393
crystal.alberts@UND.edu