Start: October 19, 2026 7:30 p.m.
End: October 19, 2026 9 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Ballroom
The Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19th-21st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling.
Free public events on Ball State’s campus will include Varian Johnson’s Monday evening talk on writing for young people and a Wednesday afternoon fiction reading followed by an on-stage interview with Ball State alum—and New York Times bestselling memoirist—Ashley C. Ford.
Hundreds of students in Muncie schools received free books and will be studying and discussing Varian Johnson’s books in their classrooms and afterschool book clubs, including: “Twins” (a graphic novel about twin sisters navigating middle school that “School Library Journal” calls “a must-read for middle grade comic lovers”), “Playing the Cards You’re Dealt”(a novel with a 10-year-old protagonist named Ant that “Publishers Weekly” says “realistically portrays family, friend, and classroom dynamics alongside lively descriptions of the beloved game of spades”), “The Parker Inheritance” (“a compelling mystery and a powerful commentary on identity, passing, and sacrifice” –“Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books,” starred review), and “The Great Greene Heist” (“A political heist page-turner set in middle school”).
Please visit the 2026 Ball State Writer-in-Residence site for a complete calendar of events, plus bonus material including Varian Johnson's welcome message for Muncie students, an inspiring look back at past visits from Christina Diáz Gonzalez and Alicia D. Williams, and curated material for teaching and writing.
Monday, October 19th
“Writing for Young People” with Varian Johnson, 7:30 p.m. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom, Ball State University. Free and open to all. Refreshments served. No tickets required. Varian Johnson will be available to sign books after each event. After 7 p.m., free parking is available in most campus lots and garages.
*A pre-event literary fair will begin at 7 p.m. Come early and browse!
The residency is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English and made possible by the Efroymson Family Fund, the College of Sciences and Humanities, and the Office of the President with generous support from Burris Laboratory School, the Department of Women’s, Gender, and African American Studies, and the Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University, and our many community partners.
For more information, please contact the WIR program coordinator, Professor Jill Christman (jcchristman@bsu.edu).