2020 Festival
Highlights
Things were different for the Mississippi Book Festival's sixth edition. We never dreamed that the 2020 literary lawn party would become a “virtual” event but, with a pandemic raging, that’s where we landed. With generous funders and some of our favorite authors, we served up lively and informative conversations online. We began with celebrated panelists Ron Rash (In the Valley), Natasha Trethewey (Memorial Drive), Wayètu Moore (The Dragons, The Giant, The Women), Nic Stone (Dear Justice) and Michael Farris Smith (The Fighter). Later we featured Richard Grant (The Deepest South of All), Tiffany McDaniel (Betty), John Marszalek (Coming Out of the Magnolia Closet) and Cassandra King Conroy (Tell Me a Story). These and more virtual panelists explored a range of subjects through new books and writings in our first ever Virtual 2020 Festival. 2020 Funders >
Video
Slideshow
Panels
Activities
A Conversation with Brittney Morris
Brittney Morris is joined by Dr. Ebony Lumumba to discuss her hit debut YA novel, Slay.
- Dr. Ebony Lumumba, MODERATOR
- Brittney Morris, Slay
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Page to Screen
- Nina Parikh, MODERATOR
- Michael Farris Smith, The Fighter
- Graham Phillips
- Parker Phillips
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A Conversation with Dr. Nancy Bristow
Dr. Nancy Bristow joins C. Liegh McInnis in conversation about her new book, Steeped in the Blood of Racism.
- C. Liegh McInnis, MODERATOR
- Dr. Nancy Bristow, Steeped in the Blood of Racism
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A Conversation with Michael Farris Smith
- P.J. Lee, MODERATOR
- Michael Farris Smith, Blackwood
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Welcome Message from our Executive Director
Reader Feature: Student Edition #2
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- Calvin Davis, Lanier High School, 11th grade, Autobiography of Gucci Mane by Gucci Mane
Reader Feature: Student Edition #4
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- Katie Partridge, Ridgeland High School, 11th grade, Animal Farm by George Orwell
Reader Feature: Student Edition #5
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- Asher Hardin, The Redeemer’s School, 4th grade, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Reader Feature: Student Edition #6
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- Jeremiah Hardin, McWillie Elementary School, 3rd grade, Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban by J, K. Rowling
A Conversation with Roy DeBerry
- Pamela Junior, MODERATOR
- Roy DeBerry, Voices from the Mississippi Hill Country
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A Conversation with Ron Rash
- Ellen Daniels, Mississippi Book Festival Literary Director, MODERATOR
- Ron Rash, In The Valley
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A Conversation with Elliot Ackerman
- Ellen Daniels, Mississippi Book Festival Literary Director, MODERATOR
- Elliot Ackerman, Red Dress in Black and White
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A Conversation with Gilbert Ford
- Ellen Daniels, Mississippi Book Festival Literary Director, MODERATOR
- Gilbert Ford, The Mysterious Messenger
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A Conversation with Natasha Trethewey
- Ellen Daniels, Mississippi Book Festival Literary Director, INTRODUCTION
- Hillary Taylor, Lemuria Events Director, MODERATOR
- Kiese Laymon, HEAVY: An American Memoir
- Natasha Trethewey, Memorial Drive
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Uncomfortable: Episode 1
Holly Lange, Executive Director of the Mississippi Book Festival, visits with Dr. Ebony Lumumba, First Lady of Jackson, Tougaloo College Associate Professor of English, and Festival Board member, about racism, anti-racism and how we can create positive change.
In a conversation that kicks off the new podcast series “Uncomfortable,” Ebony and Holly talk about books, articles and resources for all ages. The series will feature many of these works by contemporary writers, sharing their experiences, thoughts, and hope for the future.
- Holly Lange, Mississippi Book Festival Executive Director
- Dr. Ebony Lumumba
Uncomfortable: Episode 2
In Episode 2 of “Uncomfortable”, Holly Lange and Dr. Ebony Lumumba discuss more in depth a few books discussed in Episode 1. Some of the titles discussed are Toni Morrison’s Playing in the Dark, Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give, and more!
- Holly Lange, Mississippi Book Festival Executive Director
- Dr. Ebony Lumumba
A Conversation with Wayètu Moore
Wayètu Moore joins Dr. Ebony Lumumba in conversation about her new memoir, The Dragons, The Giant, The Women.
- Dr. Ebony Lumumba, MODERATOR
- Wayètu Moore, The Dragons, The Giant, The Women
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A Conversation with Angie Thomas & Nic Stone
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator, MODERATOR
- Angie Thomas, On The Come Up
- Nic Stone, Dear Justyce
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75th Anniversary of Richard Wright’s Black Boy
On the 75th publication anniversary of Richard Wright’s Black Boy, C. Liegh McInnis, Kiese Laymon, and Charlie Braxton reflect on the importance of this monumental literary work.
- C. Liegh McInnis, MODERATOR
- Charlie Braxton
- Kiese Laymon, HEAVY: An American Memoir
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A Conversation with Tiffany McDaniel
- Hillary Taylor, Lemuria Bookstore, MODERATOR
- Ellen Daniels, Mississippi Book Festival Literary Director
- Tiffany McDaniel, Betty
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A Conversation with John F. Marszalek III
- Robert W. Fieseler, MODERATOR
- John F. Marszalek III, Coming Out of the Magnolia Closet
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A Conversation with Richard Grant and Martha Hall Foose
- Ellen Daniels, Mississippi Book Festival Literary Director, MODERATOR
- Richard Grant, The Deepest South of All
- Martha Hall Foose, A Good Meal is Hard to Find
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A Conversation with Cassandra King Conroy
- Matthew Guinn, MODERATOR
- Cassandra King Conroy, Tell Me A Story
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Reader Feature: Librarian Edition #1
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- John Sanders, Hinds Community College Librarian
Reader Feature: Reviewer Edition #1
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- Jerid Woods, A Black Man Reading
Reader Feature: Librarian Edition #2
- Tonja Murphy, Mississippi Book Festival Community Engagement Coordinator
- Bruce Golden, Jackson Public Schools Librarian
Southern Fried Futures
- Tim Fielder, Infinitum: An Afrofuturist Tale
- John Jennings, Blue Hand Mojo: Hard Times Road
- Donna-lyn Washington
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