2025 festival

At Blue Mountain Christian University, April 3-5, 2025

the competition

We are pleased to announce the winners of the SLF Undergraduate Writing Competition!

membership benefits

Join us for the 2025 Southern Literary Festival

FEstival Schedule

Please share!

Festival Schedule

Thursday events will be held at Union County Museum (1114 Cleveland St., New Albany, MS)

Friday and Saturday’s SLF events will all be at Blue Mountain Christian University:
Guyton Library, Fisher-Washburn Hall, & Student Union Building

BMCU Campus Map

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Union County Museum, 114 Cleveland St., New Albany, MS

Union County Museum, 114 Cleveland St., New Albany, MS

Readings by Ellen Ann Fentress and Kris Whorton

Union County Museum, 114 Cleveland St., New Albany, MS

Friday, April 4

Guyton Library

Guyton Library

Guyton Library

Guyton Library

Session 1A
Jennifer Kates 

“Characterization and Dialogue in Fiction”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 1B
Sam Reilly

“Screenwriting”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 1C
W. Ralph Eubanks

“Photography in Nonfiction”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Third Place Winners Reading

MLB Auditorium

Guyton Library

Session 2A
Kris Whorton

“Poetry”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 2B
Julie Liddell Whitehead

“Storyboarding in Fiction”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 2C
Ellen Ann Fentress

“School History in Nonfiction”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 3A
Karen Golightly

“The Magic of Magic Realism in Fiction”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 3B
Dan Bernitt

“Playwriting”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Second Place Winners Reading

Garrett Auditorium

**Enjoy an evening of dining out in New Albany

Saturday, April 5

Top of the Student Union Building

Top of the Student Union Building

Session 4A
C.T. Salazar

“Poetry and Publishing”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Session 4B
Jude Keef

“Narrative Design in Video Games”

Fisher-Washburn Hall

Admin Parking Lot

Open Mic Reading

Top of the Student Union Building

First Place Winners Reading

Garrett Auditorium

Preview of next year’s SLF at UT Chattanooga, with Sybil Baker

Garrett Auditorium