Which authors will shape Houston's literary conversation in the coming year? We have at least part of the answer as of Monday evening, when local literary nonprofit Inprint announced the 2019-2020 Margarett Root Brown Reading Series.

Although reduced from last season's dozen authors, the 10-person lineup features undeniable heavy-hitters, including Colson Whitehead, who will open the season with The Nickel Boys, the followup to his 2016 blockbuster, The Underground Railroad. Journalist and novelist Ta-Nehisi Coates will read from his new novel The Water Dancer. And Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert will visit to promote her latest, City of Girls. 

Rounded out by Carmen Maria Machado, Louise Erdich, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Natalie Diaz, Emily St. John Mandel, and Colum McCann, the season is a living trophy case of winners of (or finalists for) the Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, National Book Award, Book Critics Circle Award, and more.

See full line-up (including dates) listed below. For more information about tickets and each reading, visit inprinthouston.org. 

Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series | 2019-2020

September 16: Colson Whitehead

October 29: Ta-Nehisi Coates

November 11: Elizabeth Gilbert

January 27: Carmen Maria Machado

March 9: Louise Erdrich

March 23: Reginald Dwayne Betts and Natalie Diaz

April 27: Emily St. John Mandel and Colum McCann