Tucson Festival of Books

Deanne Stillman



Photo by Cat Gwynn

Sponsored by Friend of the Festival

Deanne Stillman is a highly regarded author known for her captivating storytelling and profound exploration of the American West's rich and often untamed history. With a career spanning decades, Stillman has crafted a body of work that delves into the complex tapestry of the real and mythological frontier, blending meticulous research with evocative prose. Her critically acclaimed books, such as "Mustang" and "Desert Reckoning," are testaments to her ability to unearth buried or little-known narratives and breathe life into characters and events that have been shaped by the country's fables. A writer of great range, Stillman has also contributed essays and articles to prominent publications, and she has written for film, television and the stage, further solidifying her status as a respected voice in American literature. Her unwavering commitment to exploring stories of war and peace with a focus on place can be seen in her newest release “American Confidential: Uncovering the Bizarre Story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his Mother." Additionally, Stillman was a founding professor in the UC Riverside-Palm Desert MFA Low Residency Creative Writing Program, where she taught nonfiction for thirteen years.

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Awards: Ohioana Book Award best nonfiction, Spur Award best contemporary nonfiction, Southwest Book of the Year, California Book Award silver medal for nonfiction, LA Press Club Award best nonfiction, amazon editors pick, two-time LA Times Best Book of the Year

Communities: Arizona Author, Former Tucsonan


Scheduled events:
Intriguing Women
Three pathbreaking authors employ extensive research in CIA files and elsewhere to shed new light on women in Cold War espionage, the JFK assassination and Oswald family dynamics.

Integrated Learning Center Room 120 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 10, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Mary Haverstick, Liza Mundy, Deanne Stillman
Moderator: Gay Vernon
Writers on Writing
In this session, two award-winning authors and instructors share lessons they learned and inspiration they bestowed along the way.

Student Union Tucson Room (Seats 110)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 10, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
History / Biography
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: George Getschow, Deanne Stillman
Moderator: Jennifer Jenkins

Books:
American Confidential
Uncovering the Bizarre Story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his Mother
History / Biography
Melville House
November 2023
ISBN 9781685890681
Hardcover, 256 pages
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A noirish mother-son tale that plays out across the Wild West of mid-twentieth century America, delving into Oswald's nomadic boyhood, and the world of his restless and disillusioned mother, who passed along a legacy of class resentment and a clamorous need to matter.

Desert Reckoning
A Town Sheriff, a Mojave Hermit, and the Biggest Manhunt in Modern California History
History / Biography
PublicAffairs
September 2017
ISBN 9781568588636
320 pages
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