MFA in Creative Writing Announces Annual Summer Literary Series

The University of St. Thomas Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program will host its annual Summer Literary Programs June 8-17, 2026. The series will feature three major events for writers, aspiring authors, students, and those who want to encounter the beauty of the written word and participate in the exciting life of the mind and imagination.

Summer Literary Series

The Summer Literary Series brings leading authors from around the world to the St. Thomas campus to deliver readings and lectures June 8-16.

James Matthew Wilson, Cullen Foundation Chair in English Literature and the founding director of the MFA in Creative Writing at UST, said, as the series enters its fifth year, UST plans to fulfil some long-held ambitions.

"We will host one of the most distinguished line-ups of guest authors that Houston has ever seen," Wilson said. "Hear from some of the greatest writers of our day, including novelists, poets, scholars and literary critics."

These events are free and open to the public. All events begin at 7:15 p.m. in Cullen Hall Auditorium.

The series opens June 8 with poet and memoirist Sally Read sharing the story of her conversion in a presentation titled "Night's Bright Darkness: The Art of Memoir." Read will return June 9 for a second evening sharing her moving life story in "An Evening of Poetry with Read."

"At the heart of our series will be three nights dedicated to the future of the novel," Wilson said. "The great historical novelist, Ron Hansen, author of 'The Assassination of Jesse James' by the Coward Robert Ford, will read from his recent work. Christopher Beha, who has published several critically acclaimed novels, will join us to discuss his books as well as his latest book, 'Why I Am Not an Atheist.' On the middle evening of their visit, Hansen and Beha will join novelist and MFA writer-in-residence, Katy Carl, to discuss the future of the literary novel, especially in the context of the Catholic tradition. We will also welcome the celebrated Australian poet, philosopher and theologian, Kevin Hart, acclaimed novelist Karen Ullo, and the New England poet, Alfred Nicol, both of whom will read from their most recent work."

This year's lineup includes:

• June 8-A Keynote Reading with Sally Read;
• June 9-An Evening of Poetry with Sally Read;
• June 10-A Keynote Reading by novelist Ron Hansen;
• June 11-Live in Conversation with novelists Christopher Beha, Ron Hansen and Katy Carl;
• June 12-A Keynote Reading by Christopher Beha;
• June 13-An Evening of Poetry with Kevin Hart;
• June 15-A Keynote Reading by novelist Karen Ullo; and
• June 16-An Evening of Poetry with Alfred Nicol.

See all the photos and bios of these impressive writers below.

Summer Writers Institute

The Summer Writers Institute, June 11-13, is a three-day immersive program in the Catholic literary tradition, that occurs during the Summer Literary Series. Open to the public, participants must be 18 or older, submit an application and be accepted into the program. During the institute, participants will hear from distinguished writers of poetry and fiction; engage in seminars on art and beauty, Catholicism and literature, and the craft of writing; and receive counsel and help with their own work in creative writing workshops.

This year's fiction faculty will be Brigid Pasulka and the poetry faculty will be James Matthew Wilson.

MFA Summer Residency

The MFA Summer Residency, June 8-17, is a special in-person course for MFA students and alumni, featuring an intensive series of seminars, workshops and literary events.

Details for all events, seminars and workshops are on the MFA in Creative Writing webpage .

New Track in the MFA in Creative Writing

As the MFA in Creative Writing at the University of St. Thomas celebrates its fifth anniversary, the program is also announcing a new track, Literary Non-Fiction and Memoir, which will complement existing courses in poetry and fiction.

"We invite applicants for the first class in this exciting new initiative to cultivate a new generation of writers to publish works of serious merit and to serve as a leaven to contemporary literary culture," Wilson said.

Wilson said the MFA has several purposes, including apprenticing writers in the great artistic and intellectual traditions of the Church and helping them master their craft to produce works of enduring interest.

All of the MFA summer events are meant to enhance the creative writing experience as scholars, novelists and poets, and budding writers come together to allow the imaginative spirit to overflow.

"To that end, the Summer Literary Series is our opportunity to invite the people of Houston onto campus so that we can all participate in the joys of the arts of the beautiful," Wilson said. "We are so fortunate to be able to introduce these fine writers to a Houston audience."

All are invited to explore the many opportunities the MFA in Creative Writing at UST has to offer. For more, visit the MFA in Creative Writing webpage or reach out to Wilson at [email protected] .