When the New York Times calls you "one of the great American authors at work today," people listen.

East Tennessee State University is bringing one such author - Ron Rash - to Johnson City.

The New York Times bestselling author and the three-time O. Henry Prize winner will headline the Bert C. Bach Written Word Initiative's Spring Literary Festival. It’s part of East Tennessee State University’s ongoing commitment to making world-class literary programming accessible to the region.

Tuesday, April 21

10:00-11:00: Welcome and Introductions, Student Winners of The Mockingbird Awards with editors Colby Dugger and Lydia Gervais

11:10-12:00: New Writing from ETSU with Scott Honeycutt, Kevin O’Donnell, and Ted Olson

LUNCH BREAK

1:20-2:40: Nonfiction Writing, with Rose McLarney

2:50-4:10: Fiction Writing, with Juan Martinez

Wednesday, April 22

10:00-10:50: Wonderlands Exhibit Featured Student Writers

11:00-12:20: Public Reading and Q&A with Nickole Brown, Juan Martinez, and Rose McLarney

LUNCH BREAK

1:40-3:00: Poetry Writing, with Nickole Brown

3:10-4:15: Conversation with Ron Rash

7:00 PM: 12th Annual Jack Higgs Memorial Reading featuring keynote speaker Ron Rash. Public Reading in the Bud Frank Theater.