Join us for this nonfiction craft talk about the intersection of sports writing, journalism, historical writing, and feminism. Three writers will discuss their new books that break ground in the world of writing about women in sports.
Maggie Mertens is a writer, journalist, and editor in Seattle. Her essays and reporting have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, NPR, Sports Illustrated, ESPNw, Glamour, and Creative Nonfiction, among others. Her first book Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women (Algonquin Books, June 2024) is a national bestseller and received Starred Reviews from Kirkus, BookPage, and Booklist. Mertens is an experienced speaker and has made multiple media appearances on national and regional television, multiple NPR affiliates, and numerous podcasts. She also writes two newsletters, Gilmore Women, and My So-Called Feminist Life.
Dr. Letisha Engracia Cardoso Brown (she/her/hers) is an assistant professor in the department of sociology at the University of Cincinnati where she is also an affiliate of the Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender, Sexualities, Studies programs. Dr. Brown is a Black feminist, interdisciplinary scholar who researches the lived realities of Blackgirlwomen in sport, media, education, and girlhood. Dr. Brown’s academic scholarship can be found in outlets including the Sociology of Sport Journal, Communication & Sport, Girlhood Studies, and Race & Social Problems. Her first book, Say Her Name; Centering Black Feminism and Black Women in Sport is the first Black feminist text in the Rutgers University Press series on Critical Issues in Sport. In addition to her academic scholarship, Dr. Brown also has an active public presence, including writing freelance articles for First & Pen, and engaging actively on social media platforms including BlueSky, Instagram, and Threads.
Vicki Valosik is an editorial director and writing instructor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, as well as a competitive synchronized swimmer. Her writing has appeared in the Atlantic, Smithsonian, Time, American Scholar, LitHub, and Slate, among others. Valosik’s debut book, Swimming Pretty: The Untold Story of Women in Water (W.W. Norton, 2024)—which Publisher's Weekly described as "an incisive marriage of sports and cultural history"—has received praise from national publications including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal and starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. Swimming Pretty was selected as a Staff Pick for NPR Books We Love 2024 list and named an Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best History Books.
This event is free but registration is required. Click here to register for the Zoom link.