Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series

Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series logo by Marina Gonzalez Mazo

The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series is an annual program that hosts local and nationally renowned writers for craft lectures and public readings. These free events showcase the talents of featured writers as they bring their work to life, offering audiences a chance to experience literature in a powerful, personal way. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to a visiting author's work, the public readings provide an unforgettable evening of storytelling and inspiration, connecting the community to the transformative power of the written word. Since its inception in the early 1970s, the series has welcomed some of the most celebrated voices in literature, including Robert Pinsky, Lucille Clifton, Scott Russell Sanders, Mark Doty, Camille Dungy, and Terry Tempest Williams. All events are free and open to the public!

Daryl Farmer is Director of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series for the 2024–25 academic year.

2024-2025 Series Lineup

 

Click on an author's photo to explore our events. Each author’s photo links to a dedicated page that includes information about their public talk, as well as details about their associated book club readings and craft talks. These pages offer a closer look at the author’s work and provide additional context or resources related to their event.

Pages for upcoming events will be available as the dates approach!

 

 

Midnight Sun Book Club
Midnight Sun Book Club

The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series book club offers readers an in-depth discussion of featured authors’ works on the week before the authors' public readings. This event provides a unique opportunity to explore themes, ask questions, and connect with fellow literature enthusiasts in an engaging, thought-provoking setting before the author’s presentation. Free and open to the public, the book club is a welcoming space for dedicated fans and curious newcomers alike, fostering a sense of community around literature. Please join us in person on the UAF Troth Yeddha' campus on the top floor of the UAF Rasmuson Library in the Student Success Center, Classroom 660, or online via Zoom at .

Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series Craft Talk
Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series Craft Talk

The Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series invites you to explore storytelling through craft talks by visiting authors. These sessions offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, highlighting writing techniques, inspirations, and challenges. Held the day after the public reading, craft talks provide an excellent opportunity to connect with experienced storytellers and gain insight into their approach to writing. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a passionate reader, these talks are a must for anyone interested in literature and the craft of writing. Free and open to the public, the talks will be held in person at UAF Troth Yeddha' campus, on the top floor of Rasmuson Library in Classroom 660, or online via Zoom at .

Upcoming Book Club Dates

  • Feb14

    Sean Enfield's "Holy American Burnout"

      Student Success Center, Classroom 660, UAF Rasmuson Library
      3 p.m.-4 p.m.
    Holy American Burnout! intertwines personal experience and cultural critique to explore Black and bi-racial identity.

    Zoom option available:
  • Mar28

    Brook McClurg's "A Dictionary of Modern Consternation"

      Student Success Center, Classroom 660, UAF Rasmuson Library
      3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
    A Dictionary of Modern Consternation blends genre-defying nonfiction to explore language’s alienating effect on community.

    Zoom option available:
  • Apr11

    Annie Wenstrup's “ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø the Museum of Unnatural Historiesâ€

      Student Success Center, Classroom 660, UAF Rasmuson Library
      3 p.m.-4 p.m.
    ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø the Museum of Unnatural Histories is a poetry collection navigating personal history and unresolved colonial violence through poetic storytelling.

    Zoom option available:
  • Upcoming Craft Talk Dates

  • Feb21

    Authors: Sean Enfield, Zack Medlin, and H. Warren

      Student Success Center, Classroom 660, UAF Rasmuson Library
      3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
    Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process with Enfield, Medlin and Warren.

    Zoom option available:

  • Apr4

    Authors: Joy Castro and Brook McClurg

      Student Success Center, Classroom 660, UAF Rasmuson Library
      3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
    Dive into the creative minds of Castro and McClurg during this discussion about storytelling and crafting nonfiction.

    Zoom Option available:
  • Apr18

    Author: Annie Wenstrup

      Student Success Center, Classroom 660, UAF Rasmuson Library
      3 p.m.-4 p.m.
    Gain insights into the artistry behind Wenstrup’s critically acclaimed debut poetry collection.

    Zoom option available:
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    Support the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series:

    Do you enjoy the work we do? Consider supporting the series through an online donation!

     

     

    Speaker at the 2018 Dead Writers Event. UAF Photo

    Dead Writers

     

    Step into the eerie charm of the Dead Writers reading, a Halloween tradition hosted by the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series since 1990. MFA students and faculty bring literary legends to life with captivating readings in spooky costumes. With raffle prizes, awards for Best Costume and Performance, and a hauntingly good cause—raising funds for visiting writers—it’s an event you don’t want to miss. Check out photos and highlights from past Dead Writers nights!

     

    Thank you to our sponsors.

    We are deeply grateful to the SpringHill Suites by Marriott and the Bridgewater Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, for their generous hospitality in hosting our authors during their stay in Fairbanks. Your support and kindness are invaluable in helping us bring esteemed writers to Alaska, enriching our community and celebrating the power of storytelling. Thank you for being such an integral part of this journey.

     
    Bridgewater Hotel, Fairbanks, AK.

    Bridgewater Hotel logo

     
     
    SpringHill Suites, Fairbanks, AK

    Springhill Suites Marriott Logo

     
    We extend our heartfelt thanks to Megan Bean from the UAF Office of Development for her dedication and hard work in supporting the UAF Department of English's Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series. Her invaluable efforts have been instrumental in fostering the success of this program and enhancing its impact on our community.
    Contact

    Director
    Daryl Farmer

    Fall 2024 TA
    Rachel Blume
    rablume@alaska.edu

    Spring 2025 TA
    Manuel Melendez
    mamelendez2@alaska.edu

    Midnight Sun logo

    We're happy to debut the new logo for the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series. It was designed by undergraduate student Marina Gonzalez Mazo. Thanks to a Supplies & Services Award from Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity, we will be distributing promotional material featuring the new logo during the next academic year.

    Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series Archive