Rumaan Alam and Jonathan Lethem discuss their recent apocalyptic novels in this conversation from the 2020 Portland Book Festival.

Brit Bennett and Bryan Washington discuss writing craft and their recent novels, with moderator Jennifer Baker, at the 2020 Portland Book Festival.

Isabel Wilkerson discusses Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents in this conversation with Viet Thanh Nguyen from the 2020 Portland Book Festival.

Yaa Gyasi discusses her novels, Homegoing and Transcendent Kingdom, as well as the what and who have influenced her as both a reader and writer.

Joy Harjo discusses her recent projects as US Poet Laureate, plus crafting poetry and the importance of art, in this talk and conversation with Anis Mojgani.

Alison Bechdel discusses exercise, nature, creativity, and her graphic memoir The Secret to Superhuman Strength in this conversation with Cheryl Strayed.

Maxine Hong Kingston reflects on life after the fire that burned most of her belongings and writings, including her in-progress Book of Peace.

Ross Gay shares his non-linear journey to becoming a poet, and the inspiration behind his essay collection The Book of Delights.

Acclaimed Irish poet and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney shares poems spanning more than four decades of his work in this talk from 2002.

Heather McGhee discusses racial justice and her book The Sum of Us with Anand Giridharadas.