WORDSAWAKE5! Set for February 21, 2026!

Dear Wake Forest Writers and lovers of WF Writing,

We are getting closer to WordsAwake5!, a Celebration of Wake Forest Writers and Writing.  Here are some reminders and updates.

When:    Saturday, February 21, 9:00 am – 11:45 am

Where:  Annenberg Hall, Room 111 Carswell Hall, Wake Forest campus and via Zoom Webinar.

(For those attending in person, continental breakfast starts at 8:00 am in the Annenberg Lobby.)

The Webinar link will be sent out to this listserv and for general broadcast on Monday, February 9.That same mailing will be part of the larger campus and community promotion of WA5!  

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 what they write.   

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), novelist

Jamie Vacca Chambliss (’94), literary agent

Mankaprr Conteh (’16), 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.

Finally, if you know now whether or not you will attend — in person or virtually — please RSVP if you haven’t already done so.  We want to have a strong showing both in Annenberg Hall and from around the world!

Sincere wishes and stay warm.  More news anon!

Tom, for the WA5! Committee