Can a work of fiction shine a light on current event events, perhaps even more truly than works of non-fiction? Patricia Grace King, winner of the 2026 Drue Heinz Literature Prize offers us a chance to consider this question more deeply. On October 7, we have the unique opportunity to hear Patricia from her award-winning book, Those Who Vanish. Following her reading, we will have a facilitated conversation about the stories in her book and what they say to us about immigration.

Taking place during the decades-long civil conflict, Those Who Vanish follows the stories of Guatemalan citizens and North American expats set on a collision course by war. Set in a world of daily disappearances, the collection addresses a vital question: When all certainties are snatched away, what remains of lives, of memory, of faith?