Tucson Festival of Books

R.O. Kwon (She/Her)



Jesse Dittmar

R. O. Kwon is the author of "Exhibit" and the nationally bestselling novel "The Incendiaries," which was named a best book of the year by more than 40 publications and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Award. With Garth Greenwell, Kwon coedited the bestselling "Kink," a New York Times Notable Book. She has received fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Yaddo and MacDowell. Born in Seoul, Kwon has lived most of her life in the United States.

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Scheduled events:
Beyond Boundaries: Blending of Genres
Authors Mateo Askaripour, R.O. Kwon and Julia Phillips push the limits of storytelling by weaving suspense, speculative fiction, and mythology into rich narratives that defy traditional genre conventions and captivate readers.

Koffler Room 204 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Mateo Askaripour, R.O. Kwon, Julia Phillips
Moderator: Emily Walsh
Unveiling Desire
Join Jessica Elisheva Emerson, Eowyn Ivey, and R.O. Kwon as they discuss stories that delve into the complexities of women’s desires — artistic, romantic, and spiritual — challenging societal expectations and illuminating the paths toward autonomy and fulfillment.

Modern Languages Room 350 (Seats 318, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Central Mall (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Jessica Elisheva Emerson, Eowyn Ivey, R.O. Kwon
Moderator: Anne Gardner
Writing the Lives of Others: Crafting Compelling Characters
Join Jonathan Evison, Kirsten Miller, and R.O. Kwon as they discuss the art of character development, the challenges of writing authentically about diverse experiences, and the power of fiction to illuminate the human condition.

Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 16, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Jonathan Evison, R.O. Kwon, Kirsten Miller
Moderator: David Gardner

Books:
Exhibit
A Novel
Fiction / Literature
Penguin Publishing Group
May 2024
ISBN 9780593190029
224 pages

The Incendiaries
A Novel
Fiction / Literature
Penguin Publishing Group
July 2019
ISBN 9780735213906
240 pages