Proof:
A Midwest Lit Fest

Join three 2024 honorees of the Indiana Authors Awards for reading from their recent fiction.

Brian Leung’s newest book is A Terrifying Brush with Optimism (Sarabande, February 2025). He is the author of Take Me Home (HarperCollins) which was a recipient of a Willa Award for Historical Fiction, World Famous Love Acts (Sarabande Books), Ivy vs Dogg: With a Cast of Thousands! (C&R Press), All I Should Not Tell (C&R Press), and the well-received novel, Lost Men (Random House). In 2012 Lambda Literary Foundation presented him with its Mid-Career Novelist Award. For six years Professor Leung worked with the U.S. Department of State Institute on Contemporary U.S. Literature where, in his final year, he served as Principal Investigator and Director. He previously served as Director of Creative Writing at Purdue University where he is a professor in the Department of English. A native of California, he received his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Indiana University.

Rebecca McKanna’s short stories have been anthologized in The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 and recognized as distinguished in The Best American Short Stories 2019. She has been published in Colorado Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Rumpus, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and Third Coast, among other publications. She is an associate professor of English at the University of Indianapolis. Don’t Forget the Girl is her first novel.

Brando Skyhorse’s debut novel, The Madonnas of Echo Park (Simon & Schuster, 2010), received the 2011 PEN/Hemingway Award, and the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The book was also a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers pick. Take This Man: A Memoir (Simon & Schuster, 2014) was an Amazon Best Book of the Month selection and named by Kirkus Reviews as one the Best Nonfiction Books of the year. His latest novel, My Name Is Iris, was named one of The Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction in 2023. Skyhorse has also co-edited an anthology, We Wear The Mask: 15 True Stories Of Passing in America (Beacon Press, 2017). He has been awarded fellowships from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in Lake Como, Italy, the Ucross Foundation, Art Omi, the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, and was the 2014-2015 Jenny McKean Moore Writer-In-Washington at George Washington University. Skyhorse is an Associate Professor of English at Indiana University in Bloomington where he directs the Creative Writing program.

This session is made possible by the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards.

Ananda Lima is a poet, fiction writer, and translator, the author of Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil (Tor Books,2024) and Mother/land (Black Lawrence Press, 2021), winner of the Hudson Prize. Her work has appeared in four chapbooks, including Amblyopia (Bull City Press), as well as publications such as The American Poetry Review, Poets.org, Kenyon Review, Electric Literature, Lit Hub, Witness, and elsewhere. She has served as a mentor at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), and currently serves as a Contributing Editor at Poets & Writers, and Program Curator at StoryStudio, Chicago. She has an MA in Linguistics from UCLA and an MFA in Creative Writing in Fiction from Rutgers University, Newark. Craft, her fiction debut, has received starred reviews from Kirkus Review, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, and The New York Times describes it as “a remarkable debut that announces the arrival of a towering talent in speculative fiction.” Originally from Brazil, she lives in Chicago.

Join contributors to the recent anthology of Indiana writing, A Flame Called Indiana, edited by Doug Paul Case, as they share their work.

Nancy Chen Long is the author of Wider than the Sky (Diode Editions, 2020), which was selected for the Diode Editions Book Award, and Light into Bodies (University of Tampa Press, 2017), which won the Tampa Review Prize for Poetry. Her poetry has been supported by a National Endowment of the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship in poetry and the Poetry Society of America Robert H. Winner Award. She works at Indiana University in the Research Technologies division.

Doug Paul Case is the author of Americanitis (Ghost City Press, 2023) and editor of A Flame Called Indiana: An Anthology of Contemporary Hoosier Writing (Indiana University Press, 2023). He lives in Bloomington, where he is Assistant Director of Creative Writing at Indiana University.

Silas Hansen’s essays have appeared in Slate, Colorado Review, Hobart, The Normal School, and elsewhere. A native of western New York, he has spent the past decade in Muncie, Indiana, where he teaches creative writing at Ball State University. 

Samantha (Sam) Fain is a poet from Indiana. Her first chapbook, Coughing Up Planets, debuted with VA Press in March of 2021. Her microchapbook, sad horse music, debuted with The Daily Drunk in May of 2021, and was translated into Spanish by Catalina Ponce of Chile’s Cicada Editora in 2024. She co-edited Kiss Your Darlings: A Taylor Swift Anthology with Olney Magazine in 2022. Her debut full-length collection, Are You There, is out now with Bad Betty Press. 

Adrian Matejka was born in Germany as part of a military family. He grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington and the MFA program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

He is the author of The Devil’s Garden (Alice James Books, 2003) which won the New York / New England Award and Mixology (Penguin, 2009), a winner of the 2008 National Poetry Series. His third collection, The Big Smoke (Penguin, 2013), was awarded the 2014 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. The Big Smoke was also a finalist for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. His next collection, Map to the Stars, was published by Penguin in 2017. His most recent collection of poems, Somebody Else Sold the World (Penguin, 2021), was a finalist for the UNT 2022 Rilke Prize and the 2022 Indiana Authors Award. His first graphic novel Last On His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century was published in February 2023 by Liveright.

Among Matejka’s other honors are the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, the Julia Peterkin Award, and fellowships from the Academy of American Poets, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and a Simon Fellowship from United States Artists. He served as Poet Laureate of the state of Indiana in 2018-19. He currently lives in Chicago and is Editor of Poetry magazine.

Following his reading, Adrian will be in conversation with Mitchell L.H. Douglas, Proof curator, Indianapolis poet, and professor of creative writing at Indiana University Indianapolis.

In this exploratory workshop, artists will learn the form –its importance, its purpose, and most importantly how & when to break it! We will engage a range of poetic forms as points of departure for our own writing and thinking. Works from several writers will be reviewed and used to experiment with the outer limits of wordsmithing. Note that this workshop is strictly for rule breakers, outsiders, and anyone who is laughed at when they tell others they are a “thug.” The “To Pimp A Prompt” workshop is facilitated by Rashida Greene (of Word As Bond).

Rashida Greene is a Naptown native, mother of two, and writer. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Word As Bond which offers creative writing programs to artists in the Indianapolis area. As a Word As Bond mentor she has coached the Indiana team to the international youth poetry slam competition Brave New Voices for over a decade. Rashida graduated from IUPUI where she obtained BAs in both Psychology and Creative Writing. She currently facilitates A.R.C. (Artists Resisting Complacency) a peer led BIPOC monthly writing workshop hosted at Ujamaa Community Bookstore. Rashida is an advent plant enthusiast, lover of books, animals and Arnold Palmers.

In this presentation, Tamara shares what she has learned in more than 20 years of being a writer, including lessons about business, maintaining the muse and the challenges and joys of creating as a femme writer of color.

Tamara Winfrey-Harris is a nationally renowned writer, speaker and thought leader, focusing on issues of race and gender and their intersection with politics, popular culture and current events. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Los Angeles Times, Ms. magazine and other media. She is the author of the award-winning book, The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America, Dear Black Girl: Letters from Your Sisters on Stepping into Your Power and A Black Woman’s Guide to Getting Free (Berrett-Koehler Publishers July 2024).

Space is limited. Workshop will be followed by a book signing with Tamara Winfrey-Harris.

Writing for theater is more than just ditching descriptions. It’s about sculpting a story to take place in public in real time. Take a step toward the stage — or hone your existing skills – in this session with one of Indiana’s most produced playwrights.

Lou Harry’s produced plays include Rita from Across the Street (American Lives Theatre) Midwestern Hemisphere (Heartland Actors Repertory Theatre), Lightning and Jellyfish (Theatre on the Square), Popular Monsters (Catalyst Rep) and We Are Still Tornadoes (Butler University Theatre and Tree Fort Productions). The editor of Quill, the magazine of the Society of Professional Journalists, he has written more than 30 published books and writes frequently for Indianapolis Monthly, Midwest Film Journal and other publications. Follow him @LouHarry and via www.louharry.com.

Adrian Matejka was born in Germany as part of a military family. He grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington and the MFA program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

He is the author of The Devil’s Garden (Alice James Books, 2003) which won the New York / New England Award and Mixology (Penguin, 2009), a winner of the 2008 National Poetry Series. His third collection, The Big Smoke (Penguin, 2013), was awarded the 2014 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. The Big Smoke was also a finalist for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. His next collection, Map to the Stars, was published by Penguin in 2017. His most recent collection of poems, Somebody Else Sold the World (Penguin, 2021), was a finalist for the UNT 2022 Rilke Prize and the 2022 Indiana Authors Award. His first graphic novel Last On His Feet: Jack Johnson and the Battle of the Century was published in February 2023 by Liveright.

Among Matejka’s other honors are the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, the Julia Peterkin Award, and fellowships from the Academy of American Poets, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and a Simon Fellowship from United States Artists. He served as Poet Laureate of the state of Indiana in 2018-19. He currently lives in Chicago and is Editor of Poetry magazine.

Following his reading, Adrian will be in conversation with Mitchell L.H. Douglas, Proof curator, Indianapolis poet, and professor of creative writing at Indiana University Indianapolis.

Too Black and Eric Saunders have a conversation on the uses of poetry and writing, creative practice, publishing and more.

About Too Black:
Too Black is a poet, scholar, organizer and filmmaker who blends critical analysis with biting sarcasm. He has headlined various stages and events including the historic Nuyorican Poets Café in New York City, Princeton University, and Johannesburg Theater in South Africa. He is the co-author of the book Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits. His words have been published in online publications such as Black Agenda Report, Hammer and Hope, Mondoweiss, and Hood Communist. He is the host of the Black Myths Podcast, a podcast debunking the BS said about Black people. He is also the co-director of the award winning documentary film The Pendleton 2: They Stood Up. 

About Eric Saunders:

Eric D. Saunders is known across the Indianapolis community as a servant leader, artist, husband and father. This Indianapolis native aspires to live out his universal purpose on a local platform through community advocacy, artistry and volunteerism. His passion has led him to this position in life where he is the co-founder, along with his wife Erica, of Stages and Pages LLC.

Eric’s academic foundation evolved his educational and social connections. He attended Crispus Attucks Middle School, and went on to graduate from Cathedral High School. He then went on to earn his B.A  from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana majoring in African American African Diaspora Studies and Communication and Culture.

Eric’s community work has fueled his passion and talents as a Spoken Word Artist, Host and Actor.  This artistry has opened up many doors as he is currently the co-host for Teas Me The Artist Youth Open Mic, primary host for Teas Me Community Conversations and primary host for Black Leaf Vegan’s  Vegan and Verses Open Mic. As a published artist, he customizes poetry that has led to multiple presentations for special events near and far including Stages and Pages first production entitled, Dark Stages. As a result, many of his followers have come to know him as “The Green Eyed Bandit”.

Eric recently served as the Director of Community Engagement with Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis, which is the near westside’s only stand-alone middle school. His role was to serve alongside the Executive Director to engage with the community and recruit scholars. He is now the Manager of Community Engagement for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana which is a 1 to 1 nationally recognized mentoring agency that strives to defend the potential of youth.

Aside from work, he has coached baseball (Douglass Little League, Eagle Creek) and basketball (YMCA, PYBL). He currently serves as the Black Alumni Council President of Cathedral High School and has served as a volunteer Board Member and committee member for the following organizations Concord Neighborhood Center, Douglas Baseball Little League, BBBSCI Diversity Taskforce, Indianapolis Library African American History Committee. (Advisory Board) and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. (NU ALPHA ALPHA CHAPTER).

Januarie York and Chantel Massey have a conversation about the meaning of home and community, publishing, creative practice, and more.

Januarie York is a freelance writer, published author & poet who was recently named the Center for Black Literature and Culture’s first Poet Laureate. In addition to performing original works of poetry, she has produced several of her own spoken word theatrical shows that focus on uplifting and inspiring women. She has her MBA in Positive Psychology and her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice.

Chantel Massey (she/her) is a storyteller, poet, author, teaching artist, editor, organizer, educator, practicing Afrofuturist, and avid anime lover from Indiana. Massey has received support from Brooklyn Poets, Hurston/Wright Foundation, and Tin House. She is a 2023 Best of Net Award winner and 2020 Indiana Eugene and Marilyn Glick Author Awards Emerging Author finalist for her first collection of poetry, Bursting At The Seams (VK Press, 2018), a Midwest Black girl coming of age story. Massey founded the literary arts organization, UnLearn Arts, radically dedicated to amplifying and cultivating the craft and wellness of BIPOC writers in the Midwest and elsewhere.

In 38 years of bookselling, Shirley Mullin has met over 150 authors and hosted more than 300 events. Always, there is a story to tell. Join Shirley and hear some of her favorite stories about authors and the events hosted at Kids Ink. And perhaps some thoughts about changes in books, publishing, and bookselling.

Shirley Mullin is the founder and owner of Kids Ink Children’s Bookstore which is now 38 years old.  With an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in library science, she has been a public-school teacher and a librarian.  Prior to Kids Ink, Shirley developed the Riley Family Library at Riley Hospital for Children.  For many years she also taught Children and Adolescent Literature for the Indiana University School of Library Science.

Shirley credits her lifelong love of children’s books to her primary education in a one-room schoolhouse in rural Nebraska.  With sometimes only six students in the entire school, the lone teacher had hours to fill and often read aloud even re-reading books that the students loved.  A librarian at the Nebraska State Library also mailed books to Shirley often with notes included inviting responses to the books, a free library service for rural farm families.

Shirley will be in conversation with Suzanne Walker, Director of the Indiana Center for the Book Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian at the Indiana State Library.

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 Darryl Pinckney, writer of numerous books (recently a memoir about Elizabeth Hardwick, Come Back in September: A Literary Education in West Sixty-Seventh Street) and longtime contributor to The New York Review of Books will join Susan Neville, writer and winner of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement recognition from the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards, and Taylor Lewandowski, writer and owner of Dream Palace Books & Coffee, about the conflicting forces of leaving home and returning, the importance of literature, and guiding figures from our past.

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What if prisoners were to write the history of their own prison? What might that tell them—and all of us—about the roots of the system that incarcerates so many millions of Americans?Join editors Michelle Daniel Jones (appearing virtually) and Elizabeth Nelson as they share from Who Would Believe a Prisoner?: Indiana Women’s Carceral Institutions, 1848–1920.

In this groundbreaking and revelatory volume, a group of incarcerated women at the Indiana Women’s Prison have assembled a chronicle of what was originally known as the Indiana Reformatory Institute for Women and Girls. Contributors worked under conditions of sometimes-extreme duress, excavating documents, navigating draconian limitations on what information incarcerated scholars could see or access, and grappling with the unprecedented challenges stemming from co-authors living on either side of the prison walls.

Michelle Daniel Jones is a sixth-year doctoral student in the American studies program at New York University.  Her dissertation focuses on creative liberation strategies of incarcerated women and the Alabama Prison Arts and Education Project.  As an organizer, collaborator, and subject matter expert she creates opportunities to speak truth to power and serves in the development and operation of taskforces and initiatives to reduce harm and end mass incarceration.

Elizabeth Nelson is an assistant professor in the Medical Humanities and Health Studies Program at Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) and an adjunct assistant professor of Africana studies and history. Prior to coming to IUPUI, Nelson earned a PhD in French History at Indiana University, Bloomington in 2015 and served as the Director of Public Programs at the Indiana Medical History Museum from 2014-2017. A medical historian, Nelson’s primary research interests center on modern institutions of confinement such as mental hospitals and prisons in both the United States and France. She explores how people carve out bold and meaningful lives in the most inhospitable spaces.

Channel your creative energies at our Timeless Writing Station! Craft your own poem or story using antique typewriters, old stamps, homemade inks, and vintage fountain pens. This activity is open to all ages and is sponsored by Dr. Adam Henze and Siren Hand, husband-and-wife superduo and co-founders of Our Type Love. Come create something timeless with us!

Participating organizations:

• Indiana Writer’s Center
• Heartland Society of Women Writers
• BOOTH
• University of Southern Indiana
•  4 Kids Books & Toys
• MacArthur Books
• Tomorrow Bookstore
• Dream Palace Books & Coffee
• Carmel Creative Writers
• Butler MFA Program
• Quotidian
• Kids Ink
• Indy Pride
• Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore
• Cardinal Publishing
• Indianapolis Public Library
• Curious Squirrel Bookshop
• Abstract Books
• Brick Street Poetry
• Poetry Society of Indiana
• Indy Reads
• Irvington Vinyl & Books
• Loudmouth Books