A conversation exploring the rich narratives of Puerto Rican lives through fiction. The authors in this discussion will chat about the diverse voices shaping contemporary literature about the Caribbean island and its cultural ties across the globe. More than storms and beaches, Puerto Rico holds complexities of cultural identity, diaspora, and belonging. These writers discuss how their work reflects both the island’s deep roots and the transformative power of the Puerto Rican community in New York and the rest of the mainland. Expect a lively exploration of language, history, and the personal and political dimensions of storytelling.

This author conversation includes Ann Dávila Cardinal and Amina Gautier, moderated by Jennifer Maritza McCauley.

From the history of coffee cultivation to contemporary café culture, the topics taken up by this panel all carry the rich aroma of Java. Writing about coffee involves the best kind of research: looking at the economic, social, and political context and history of coffee, as well as drinking a hot and flavorful cuppa. To speak about the jitter juice from three different genre perspectives and eras, this panel will be a blend rather than a single-origin cup of Joe.

This panel includes Christopher Citro, Mark Pendergrast, and Heather Webber, and will be moderated by Jessica Vaughn Martin.

The language of architecture is unavoidably metaphorical: the windows of the soul, the doors of opportunity, the façade you present to the crowd. And when we talk about writing, we often use architectural language: scaffolding an idea, structuring a plot, world-building. Our panelists in “Gargoyles and Grotesques!” all approach architecture from different perspectives, as a historian, as a chronicler of fiction, and as a poet; yet they all honor the beauty and explore the complexity of human-made structures in their writing.

This panel includes John Gallaher, Christine Stewart-Nunez, John Zukowsky, and will be moderated by Julia Talen.

The Mississippi River has fed and transported nations for thousands of years. It has flowed in the background of countless historical and literary moments, and today shapes where people drive, supplies water they drink, and acts like a superhighway for many animal species. Meet contemporary writers taking a fresh look at Old Man River, including a novelist, a longtime regional guide, and a historian. They will discuss the riches their creativity has found in this ancient natural and cultural resource.

This panel includes G. Faye Dant, Dean Klinkenberg and Melissa Scholes Young, and will be moderated by Tina Casagrand Foss.

There is a long tradition of creative writers exploring the complexities of addiction and sobriety, from William Burroughs to Kaveh Akbar, balancing harrowing realities and representing the emotional, psychological, and societal challenges of addiction. This diverse panel of authors discuss the ethical responsibility of representing addiction, and share perspectives on crafting authentic portrayals that resonate with readers--challenging common stereotypes and fostering empathy.

Panelists include Julie Buntin, Nickolas Butler, and Dana Levin, moderated by Cristina Mislan.

Come and learn about a different kind of book! Dr. Juanamaria Cordones-Cook discusses Ediciones Vigía, an independent publishing house located in Matanzas, Cuba. Handmade using collaged, repurposed materials, their books are created by artisans who volunteer at the press. No more than 200 copies of any title are produced – each book is exquisite, truly a work of art in itself.

This special event is sponsored by the University of Missouri Libraries

Ah, the hero's journey. It's an epic structure of leaving home, making friends, facing challenges, slaying monsters and coming back with the elixir of wisdom. The prospect of a journey and choices of where to go and how to get there still tantalizes travelers. Thank goodness for these guides. Whether they've been advising on low-impact travel, documenting life in remote corners of the globe, or musing on the spiritual gifts of travel, these writers have dedicated their work to connecting people to the world.

This panel includes Carolyn McCarthy, Dean Klinkenberg, Rolf Potts, and Sean Hill and will be moderated by Sophia Romero-Compain.

Participating in a conversation on Indigenous justice through the lens of creative writing, the authors on this panel will discuss how storytelling can be a tool for resistance, resilience, and the reclamation of Indigenous identities and rights. At the intersection of literature and activism, the panelists will speak on their experience blending personal narratives and cultural histories in their work to reflect contemporary Indigenous experiences with emphasis on land, community, and sovereignty. This panel will offer insights into how writing can advocate and serve as a platform for challenging systemic injustice.

This panel includes Tacey M. Atsitty, Rebecca Pelky, m. s. RedCherries and will be moderated by Cass Donish.

“The beauty of reality-based art—art underwritten by reality hunger—is that it’s perfectly situated between life itself and […] ‘life as art.’” -David Shields. Nonfiction is the only genre of writing defined by what it is not. It isn't pure invention as fiction is, but that leaves open the possibility that nonfiction can encompass everything-that-is-not-fiction. Creative nonfiction can be lyrical, narrative, topical, polemical, critical, historical, and everything in between. Nonfiction-writers Bailey Gaylin Moore and Kendra Green participate in a conversation about representing reality in this capacious literary genre.

This author conversation includes A. Kendra Greene and Bailey Gaylin Moore.

It is April of 2000. In exactly twenty-five years, three novelists will write books about time travel and talk about them at a festival that does not yet exist. This leaping through time puts a strain on the mind, especially its capacity for logical thinking. It is now April of 2024. Emily St. John Mandel is about to speak at the Unbound Book Festival about time travel in her novel Sea of Tranquility, when she receives an urgent message from the future. A traveler through the stream of time whispers, “Don’t miss the Unbound Book Festival panel on Time Travel novels: ‘Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads.’”

This panel includes Brenda Peynado, Maurene Goo, and John Elizabeth Stintzi, and will be moderated by Annie Trinh.

Death is not most people’s favorite topic of conversation, and writing about death and grief often goes hand-in-hand with drama, sadness, and heaviness. But death is one of the few experiences that every human being will share--so why not talk about it? And while we’re at it, let’s approach it with a little irreverence and maybe even some (gasp!) humor. This panel of authors have all written books that approach death and express grief in comedic ways. They will discuss how they went about incorporating comedy into their narratives of mourning in ways that feel integral, natural, and even supportive, to the grieving process.

This panel includes Ann Dávila Cardinal, Eden Robins, and Elijah Burrell ,and will be moderated by Kendyl Schmidt.

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.” So said the Bard of Avon. Our four guest authors will each represent the joys and challenges of writing about one of the seven ages-- or at least one of the following four: childhood, adulthood, middle age, or old age.

This panel includes Gabe Fried, Amina Gautier, Christi Clancy, and Nick Butler, and will be moderated by Bill Kerwin.

Delving into the dynamic intersection of Afrofuturism, Black comics, and poetry, editors and contributors to the anthology, The Future of Black, converse about how Black poets are using speculative narratives, cosmic visions, and superhero archetypes to reimagine the future of Black identity, culture, and resistance. They'll share their creative processes and ways in which they've employed verse to envision alternative futures. This will be an exciting discussion of visionary thought, cultural commentary, and literary craft.

Panelists include Teri Ellen Cross Davis, Gary Jackson, and Cynthia Manick, moderated by Sarah Buckner.

Birds and words have always shared a close relationship. The raven, the dove, and the swallow appear in Gilgamesh, and birds have been chronicled in the modern era by ornithologists from John James Audubon to David Attenborough. Our feathered friends have been a source of wonder and inspiration for poets and writers from John Keats to Lydia Millet. When we look to the sky, some see stars, some see the heavens, and some see the flightpath of birds. These three panelists—a poet, a fiction-writer, and a nature photographer—confront the mystery of birds in diverse ways that mirror the extraordinary diversity of birds themselves. 

Panelists include Christopher Citro, Lindsay Drager, and Noppadol Paothong moderated by Dana Ripper.

In this panel, authors will explore the emotional and psychological toll of migration on families. Drawing from their own works, they will discuss how borders—both physical and invisible—reshape relationships, sever familial ties, builds new communities, and redefine what it means to be "home." From the fractured bonds of separation to the resilience of reuniting across distance, these writers explore the nuances of identity and the painful yet hopeful journeys of individuals caught in the tides of migration. This will be a conversation about how the modern experience of crossing borders is rewriting the fabric of family life for new generations.

This panel includes Aisha Abdel Gawad, Crystal Hana Kim, and Alice Driver, and will be moderated by Jenny Molberg.

Marshall Garvey’s captivating new baseball history, Interstate ‘85: The Royals, the Cardinals, and the Show-Me World Series revisits the 1985 World Series between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals – a thrilling showdown often remembered more for umpire Don Denkinger’s infamous missed call in Game 6 than the unforgettable on-field drama that unfolded. Garvey goes beyond “The Call” to reveal the gripping stories of the players, managers, and key figures who shaped the Series. Interstate ‘85 paints a rich portrait of the two teams’ home cities, the state-wide spectacle of the “Show-Me Series,” and the journeys of the players both during and long after that iconic Fall Classic.

This author conversation is sponsored by the University of Missouri Press, featuring Marshall Garvey and moderated by Darren Hellwege from KBIA.

Jennifer Haigh is one of the most beloved and admired writers presently working. The author of acclaimed and bestselling novels and short fiction, she is the winner
of multiple prizes, awards, and fellowships. The New York Times describes her as “an expertly nuanced storyteller...her work is gripping, real, and totally immersive.” Jennifer’s most recent novel, Rabbit Moon, is a spellbindingly beautiful drama set in Shanghai, about a fractured American family, secret lives, and the unbreakable bond between two sisters.

In this author conversation, Jennifer will be discussing the novel, and her other work, with Carrie Koepke of Skylark Bookshop.

Inspired by the appearance of Pachinko in The New York Times’s list of the best books of the 21st century, we’re wrapping up Saturday with this all-star game, which promises to be interesting, possibly educational, and – most of all – fun. Eight of this year’s festival guests have chosen their favorite book from The New York Times list, and will participate in this not-entirely-serious Tournament of Champions where you, the audience, will determine which book will win.