2026 AUTHOR CONVERSATIONS

Nightjar Collective, 1:30 - 2:45

Featuring: Greg Olson; Moderator: Gary Kremer

So much of history is about perspective. The life of Jeffrey Deroine offers a new lens through which to consider the history of Missouri and the West. Born into slavery, Deroine worked and lived in Missouri during the state’s rapid transformation from territory to statehood, eventually becoming a free person of color and a businessman who enslaved others. Join author Greg Olson as he discusses his fascinating biography, which illustrates the nuanced intersectionality of lives on the American frontier. This panel is sponsored by the University of Missouri Press.

Little Ragtag, 10:45 AM to 12:00

Featuring: Jean Becker; Moderator: Charles Zug

Behind every polished presidential moment is an "advance team" tasked with managing the high-stakes logistics the public never sees. Jean Becker, chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush for nearly 25 years, shares funny and touching stories from vital teams over the years. This panel is sponsored by the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy.

Orr Street Studies, 3:15 - 4:45

Featuring: Jenna Blum and Emily Franklin ; Moderator: Mary O'Malley

Monstrous creatures, monstrous deeds! Two bestselling, multi-genre authors discuss their new novels--one a gripping psychological thriller, the other a rich reimagining of Frankenstein's origin story. The talk covers the craft of their genre-hopping careers, the monster of art-making, as well as the monsters who walk among us disguised as men.