The 48th annual Ϲ Literary Festival took place October 5-10 with the theme “Suspend Your Disbelief.” Showcasing the work of accomplished novelists, essayists, humorists and poets, this week-long exploration celebrated innovation and creativity beyond the printed page. Photos by Sam McDonald, Julian Robbins, Chuck Thomas and Michael DiBari/Ϲ
2025 Edith and Forrest P. White Writer-in-Residence Lauren Oyler, whose book of essays “No Judgment” was published by HarperOne, speaks at University Theatre. Photo Julian Robbins/Ϲ
“The Great Filipino American ASWANG Pageant” is a play that offers a lighthearted approach to folklore. Photo Michael DiBari/Ϲ
Gregory Grosvenor, who earned an MFA at Ϲ, is among the alumni who read works at the festival. Photo Michael DiBari/Ϲ
Kristen Renee Miller, director and editor-in-chief of Kentucky-based Sarabande Books, leads a workshop at the mpark makerspace in the Batten Arts and Letters Building. Photo Michael DiBari/Ϲ
Crystal Wilkinson, former Kentucky poet laureate and author of “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts,” leads a free writing workshop at the Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries. Her seminar coincided with the galleries exhibit “River of Earth: Meaning and Material in Self-Taught Art from Appalachia.” Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Kindra McDonald Greene leads a workshop titled “Poetry and Nature: Poets Explore the Outdoors” as part of the festival. Writers found inspiration at the Lambert’s Point Open Space next to campus. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Princess Joy L. Perry, master lecturer at Ϲ, is the author of “This Here is Love,” which was praised earlier this year in a review in The New York Times. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Poetry and jazz intersect in a performance by writer Tim Seibles and bass player Chris Brydge. Seibles is a former Virginia poet laureate and retired Ϲ English professor. Brydge, an accomplished jazz musician, was once a student in a Seibles’s class. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
“What We Ask of Flesh” mixes the award-winning poetry of Ϲ’s Remica Bingham-Risher with dance, live music and media projection. Bringing the performance to Norfolk was a years-long effort. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Festival co-directors Marianne Chan and John McManus pose with original artwork created for the festival by Sarah R. Glaser, Ϲ’s program manager for the arts. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Princess Joy L. Perry, master lecturer at Ϲ and author of “This Here is Love,” signs a copy of her book and interacts with fans. Photo Sam McDonald/Ϲ
2025 Edith and Forrest P. White Writer-in-Residence Lauren Oyler, whose book of essays “No Judgment” was published by HarperOne, speaks at University Theatre. Photo Julian Robbins/Ϲ
“The Great Filipino American ASWANG Pageant” is a play that offers a lighthearted approach to folklore. Photo Michael DiBari/Ϲ
Gregory Grosvenor, who earned an MFA at Ϲ, is among the alumni who read works at the festival. Photo Michael DiBari/Ϲ
Kristen Renee Miller, director and editor-in-chief of Kentucky-based Sarabande Books, leads a workshop at the mpark makerspace in the Batten Arts and Letters Building. Photo Michael DiBari/Ϲ
Crystal Wilkinson, former Kentucky poet laureate and author of “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts,” leads a free writing workshop at the Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries. Her seminar coincided with the galleries exhibit “River of Earth: Meaning and Material in Self-Taught Art from Appalachia.” Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Kindra McDonald Greene leads a workshop titled “Poetry and Nature: Poets Explore the Outdoors” as part of the festival. Writers found inspiration at the Lambert’s Point Open Space next to campus. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Princess Joy L. Perry, master lecturer at Ϲ, is the author of “This Here is Love,” which was praised earlier this year in a review in The New York Times. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Poetry and jazz intersect in a performance by writer Tim Seibles and bass player Chris Brydge. Seibles is a former Virginia poet laureate and retired Ϲ English professor. Brydge, an accomplished jazz musician, was once a student in a Seibles’s class. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
“What We Ask of Flesh” mixes the award-winning poetry of Ϲ’s Remica Bingham-Risher with dance, live music and media projection. Bringing the performance to Norfolk was a years-long effort. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Festival co-directors Marianne Chan and John McManus pose with original artwork created for the festival by Sarah R. Glaser, Ϲ’s program manager for the arts. Photo Chuck Thomas/Ϲ
Princess Joy L. Perry, master lecturer at Ϲ and author of “This Here is Love,” signs a copy of her book and interacts with fans. Photo Sam McDonald/Ϲ