Want to host an Indiana author in your community? For nearly 10 years, Indiana Humanities’ Speaker Program has sent former and current Indiana Authors Award winners and finalists to organizations across Indiana for readings and discussions with local audiences.
Nonprofits interested in bringing a winning or shortlisted author from the 2020 round of the Indiana Authors Awards to their community (either in-person or virtually) to speak to a public audience can apply for funds to cover speaking fees as part of the Indiana Authors Awards Speaker Program. The program, open to public libraries, schools, churches, museums, community centers, prisons and other nonprofit organizations, is made possible by Glick Philanthropies.
Indiana Humanities will select up to 30 host organizations and match them to their preferred authors through an application process. Application guidelines, author bios and an event toolkit are available below. The deadline to apply is Nov. 20, 2020.
Participating organizations are responsible for working with authors to schedule engagements and cover any travel expenses. Author events must take place in calendar year 2021.
Please contact Bronwen Carlisle at bcarlisle@indianahumanities.org with any questions.
2021 participating authors
Lindsey Alexander | Poetry Shortlist Honoree | ||
Crystal Allen | Children’s Shortlist Honoree | ||
John David Anderson | Children’s Shortlist Honoree | ||
Gabrielle Balkan | Children’s Shortlist Honoree | ||
Axton Betz-Hamilton | Nonfiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Robert Blaemire | Nonfiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Maurice Broaddus | Genre Winner | ||
Callista Buchen | Poetry Shortlist Honoree | ||
Debra Kang Dean | Poetry Shortlist Honoree | ||
Helen Frost | Children’s Shortlist Honoree | ||
Bryan Furuness | Fiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Eugene Gloria | Poetry Winner | ||
Katie Hesterman | Emerging Shortlist Honoree | ||
Michael Homoya | Children’s Shortlist Honoree | ||
Sofi Keren (Summer Keown) | Emerging & Genre Shortlist Honoree | ||
Nancy Kriplen | Nonfiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Brian Leung | Fiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Robin Lee Lovelace | Emerging Shortlist Honoree | ||
Michael Martone | Fiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Chantel Massey | Emerging Shortlist Honoree | ||
Kevin McKelvey | Poetry Shortlist Honoree | ||
Saundra Mitchell | Young Adult Winner | ||
Nate Powell | Genre Shortlist Honoree | ||
Melissa Stephenson | Emerging Winner & Nonfiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
James Still | Drama Winner | ||
Annie Sullivan | Emerging Shortlist Honoree | ||
Bill Sullivan | Nonfiction Shortlist Honoree | ||
Larry Sweazy | Genre Shortlist Honoree | ||
Shari Wagner | Poetry Shortlist Honoree | ||
Sharon Biggs Waller | Young Adult Shortlist Honoree | ||
Chris White | Fiction Winner |

HOST RESOURCES
If your organization is hosting a speaker program event in 2021, use these resources to help organize, promote and report your event. If you’d like to attend a speaker program event, check our events page for details.
LEARN MORE
For more information, contact Bronwen Carlisle at bcarlisle@indianahumanities.org or 317.616-9103.