As part of our 2026 Visiting Writers Series, the Porch is thrilled to welcome Beth Ann Fennelly, an award-winning teacher from The University of Mississippi and author of seven books, including The Irish Goodbye, published this spring by W.W. Norton. Fennelly was the Poet Laureate of Mississipp from 2016 - 2021 and has received grants from the N.E.A., the United States Artists, the Academy of American Poets, and a Fulbright to Brazil. Her books include three poetry collections: Open House, Tender Hooks, and Unmentionables, and a book of nonfiction, Great with Child. A novel she co-authored with her husband, Tom Franklin, called The Tilted World, was published by HarperCollins. Her sixth book, Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs, was named an Atlanta Journal Constitution Best Book, a Goodreaders Favorite for 2017, and the winner of the Housatonic Book Prize. Of The Irish Goodbye, Jamie Quatro (also appearing our Visiting Writers Series this spring) says, “This book knocked me sideways. I tore through it in a day and I’m still trying to catch my breath. . . . I’ve long been a fan of Beth Ann Fennelly’s work, but The Irish Goodbye is her best book yet.”

Fennelly will read and perform with her good friend, the singer-songwriter Claire Holley, who was born and raised in the American South and currently resides in Los Angeles. Holley has released twelve albums and has written music for theater productions, short and feature length films, and a ballet under the direction of David Keary. No Depression called Time in the Middle “one of 2015’s finest albums” and her powdercoat ep with Kristin Mooney won the 2014 MIAL “Best in Popular Music.” Her latest record is Where I Lived.