Writing Midwest Home: A Conversation with Contributors from Lingering Inland & On An Inland Sea

Moderated by MSU Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures Assistant Professor Dawn Burns and English Assistant Professor Tim Conrad, the conversation between these Midwest creators will explore the ways inland places shape identity, inspire storytelling, and reveal the shared threads that bind our communities across generations. Burns will bridge the dialog as a contributor to both collections, with authors Cal Freeman, Jeffrey Insko, Sarah Pazur and Ramya Swayamprakash joining from across the Midwest. Conrad’s recent receipt of a 2025 Midwest Book Award provides an additional parallel to the panel, with Lingering Inland receiving a Midwest Book Award in 2026.