The ODU Literary Festival was established in 1978. Some of the writers who have participated in the festival include Robert Pinsky, Rita Dove, Ann Beattie, Derek Walcott, Gwendolyn Brooks, S.A Cosby, Sigrid Nunez, and others. The diversity of readers, panels, workshops, and community involvement is one of the Festival hallmarks. Every two years the Festival is redesigned by a different English department member, and the themes change from year to year. Major writers, cultural diversity, international perspectives, and numerous other approaches have been implemented over the years. Students from Old Dominion University, surrounding campuses, and high schools have been encouraged to attend the literary events and are given the opportunity to hear and mingle with so many talented writers.
This year we have invited the following writers to present at our festival:
Hanif Abdurraqib
Chris Adrian
Jane Alberdeston
Emma Comery
Kimbra Drake
Siobhan Fallon
Nicole Glover
Joe Jackson
Julia Johnson
Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda
Bob Kunzinger
Richard Leise
Scott McClanahan
Michael Patrick Pearson
Luz Schweig
Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
Caleb True
Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth
Lesley Wheeler