I had an absolute blast at this year’s NOLA Book Fest. It’s such a gift to have a literary festival of this caliber right here in New Orleans—on Tulane’s campus no less—and to see it growing into something truly special.
The highlight for me? Moderating the panel United by Books: Defending the Right to Read with Megan Holt and Amanda Jones. These two are smart, fierce, and doing the work on the front lines of the fight against book bans and censorship. If you missed it, you can watch it here. It was honest, energizing, and at times deeply moving.
We talked about what’s at stake when books are pulled off shelves, how communities can push back, and why access to stories—especially the hard ones—is non-negotiable. The room was packed, the energy was real, and I walked away feeling hopeful.
Huge thanks to everyone who came out, asked questions, and helped make the fest what it was. Can’t wait to do it again.
