WORDSAWAKE5!
FEBRUARY 21, 2026!
A Celebration of Wake Forest Writers and Writing!
Annenberg Hall (Room 111, Carswell Hall), the Reynolda Campus
And via ZOOM webinar.
Dear Wake Forest Writers and lovers of WF Writing,
Join us for WordsAwake5!, a Celebration of Wake Forest Writers and Writing.
When: Saturday, February 21, 9:00 am – 11:45 am
Where: Annenberg Hall, Room 111 Carswell Hall, Wake Forest campus and via the Zoom Webinar link below.
(For those attending in person, continental breakfast starts at 8:00 am in the Annenberg Lobby.)
The Program:
We will hold several panels and a writers conversation for this, the fifth installment of WordsAwake!. The morning event concludes with the induction of Laura M. Elliott (’79) into the Wake Forest Writers Hall of Fame. (FYI, attached is an updated roster of members of the Hall of Fame.) Participants will discuss the current state of how publishing works (including tips on publishing one’s work); case studies and experiences in the challenges of reporting on contemporary political and cultural life; how two noted Southern writers conceive of how they write “community.”
These Wake Forest alumni/ae writers are scheduled to participate/present, in person or via Zoom:
T. Davis Bunn (’74), author of multiple fiction series; screenwriter
Hilary Burns (’14), education reporter, The Boston Globe
Catherine Burroughs (’80), academic writer and novelist
Jamie Vacca Chambliss (’94), literary agent
Mankaprr Conteh (’17), Staff Writer, Rolling Stone magazine
Laura M Elliott (’79), fiction writer (including YA historical fiction)
Robert Gipe (’85), novelist, illustrator, dramatist, Appalachian culturalist
Maria Henson (’82), journalist, former editor of the Wake Forest Magazine
Mike Riley (’81), Publisher, The Chronicle of Higher Education
Ed Southern (’94), author (fiction, non-fiction), Executive Director of the NC Writers Network
Nancy Joie Wilkie (’78), author of science fiction (stories and novels)
For writers coming in person, given space and staff constraints, we will not have book sales or individual author book presentations with this edition of WordsAwake! In the Annenberg Lobby we will create and display a wide and representative range of Wake Forest authors and their works.
JOIN US on/from/via the Reynolda Campus
Webinar link here:https://wakeforest-university.zoom.us/j/97224577205?pwd=1e1CcrYyuYgm1aAxtuBZayMZ61xvhQ.gW4zIHgc4rgTTVkR
Questions?
Contact Us!
Thomas O. Phillips
336.816.3059
phillito@wfu.edu
Support WA!
You too can become a supporter of the Words Awake Conference by sending contributions to John Turner, College Advancement, Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109!
