The Twenty-Ninth Oxford Conference for the Book took place on March 29–31, 2023. All events were free and open to the public, except for the opening-night authors’ party.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023
1:00 p.m. UM Campus Slavery Research Tour
Tour led by Don Guillory
Meets on the steps of the Lyceum facing the Circle
2:00 p.m. Tour of University of Mississippi Museum
Tour led by museum staff
Meets at the University of Mississippi Museum
6:00 p.m. Oxford Conference for the Book Authors’ Party
Memory House
406 University Ave.
8:00 p.m. “Reading Music”
Last of the Better Days Ahead
Charlie Parr, with Taylor Hollingsworth
Proud Larry’s
211 S Lamar Blvd.
Free and open to the public
The show is cosponsored by Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Miss.
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023
9:30 a.m. “Family, Migration, and Home”
Anjali Enjeti, Alejandro Varela and Michael X. Wang in conversation with Sheila Sundar
Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics
University of Mississippi Campus
11:00 a.m. Welcome Lunch
Hosted by the Friends of the Library
Archives and Special Collections
J. D. Williams Library
University of Mississippi Campus
11:30 a.m. “NBF Presents: An Afternoon with the National Book Awards”
Deesha Philyaw and Jonathan Escoffery in conversation with Jerid P. Woods (Akili Nzuri)
Archives and Special Collections
J. D. Williams Library
University of Mississippi Campus
1:00 p.m. “Redefining Approaches to Cultural Tourism”
Celia E. Naylor in conversation with Jodi Skipper
Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics
University of Mississippi Campus
3:00 p.m. “Southern Lit 101: An Artists’ Talk”
An Exhibition of Literary Quilts
Cathy Fussell and Fred Fussell
Southside Gallery
150 Courthouse Square
On the Oxford Square
4:30 p.m. “Poetry in the Gallery”
Readings by Tarfia Faizullah, James Hoch, and Mahogany L. Browne, with Beth Ann Fennelly
Southside Gallery
150 Courthouse Square
On the Oxford Square
6:00 p.m. Thacker Mountain Radio and Book Signing
Nic Brown, Charlie Parr, and Tyler Keith
Graduate Oxford
400 N. Lamar Blvd.
Just off the Oxford Square
(Authors from Thursdays sessions will sign books at Thacker Mountain Radio)
7:00 p.m. “Southern Lit 101: An Artists’ Reception”
Cathy Fussell and Fred Fussell
Southside Gallery
150 Courthouse Square
On the Oxford Square
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023
9:00 a.m. “Conversations with Friends and Family”
Welcome by Charles Reagan Wilson
Wayne Flynt and David Rae Morris in conversation with Stephen Monroe
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
113 S 9th St., just off the Oxford Square
Cosponsored by the Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing
10:30 a.m. “Church-ish: On Literature, Blackness, and Christianity”
Welcome by Kathryn McKee
Khalisa Rae, Danté Stewart, and Chantal James in conversation with Deesha Philyaw
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
113 S 9th St., just off the Oxford Square
12:00 p.m. “Poetry Talk and Lunch”
Mahogany L. Browne
Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library
401 Bramlett Blvd.
1:30 p.m. “The Violent Circle: The Art of Crime Fiction”
S. A. Cosby, Megan Abbott, and Eli Cranor in conversation with Ace Atkins
Lafayette County Courthouse
On the Oxford Square
2:45 p.m. “Books beyond the Border”
Julián Herbert, Yuri Herrera, and Gabriela Alemán in conversation with Bobby Rea
Lafayette County Courthouse
On the Oxford Square
Cosponsored by the Southwest Review
4:00 p.m. Winners of the Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing
Welcome by David Crews
Adam Haver, Destiny O. Birdsong, and Beverly Lowry,
with Derrick Harriell, Monica Lee Weatherly, and W. Ralph Eubanks
Off Square Books
129 Courthouse Square
On the Oxford Square
5:15 p.m. An Oxford Conference for the Book and Willie Morris Awards Celebration
Reception and Book Signing
Reception hosted by the Willie Morris Awards for Southern Writing
Off Square Books
129 Courthouse Square
On the Oxford Square
(Authors from Friday’s sessions will be available to sign books)
9:00 p.m. Noir at the Bar
Readings by Ace Atkins, S. A. Cosby, Megan Abbott, Eli Cranor, and Tyler Keith
Music by Teardrop City
Ajax Diner
118 Courthouse Square
On the Oxford Square
