Gary Shteyngart comes to the festival with his most recent novel, "Vera, or Faith," which he says is "pretty funny" despite the subject matter. His social media posts are pretty entertaining, too. His debut novel, "The Russian Debutante's Handbook," won the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. "Absurdistan" was acclaimed as one of The New York Times' 10 best books of the year in 2006. His memoir, "Little Failure," was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Born in Leningrad in 1972, Shteyngart came to the United States seven years later. He lives in New York with his wife and son.

Friends of the Festival Hospitality Tent (Seats 40)  
Sat, Mar 14, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Fiction / Literature

Author: Gary Shteyngart
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Arizona Party Rental Companies

Family can inspire love, frustration, sacrifice and even madness. In this session, bestselling authors Catherine Newman, Gary Shteyngart and Jess Walter will explore the lengths we will go to protect, support, or redeem the people closest to us.

Student Union North Ballroom (Seats 670)  
Sat, Mar 14, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: Sales & Signing South Ballroom (following presentation)  

Panelists: Catherine Newman, Gary Shteyngart, Jess Walter
Moderator: Pamela Treadwell-Rubin
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of TMC Health

Salman Rushdie joins us for a conversation about storytelling, freedom of expression, and the power of literature in shaping our world. Drawing from his celebrated body of work and personal experiences, Rushdie will reflect on the creative process and the responsibilities of the writer.

Student Union North Ballroom (Seats 670)  
Sun, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: No Signing for this Panel (following presentation)

Panelist: Salman Rushdie
Moderator: Gary Shteyngart
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of TMC Health

How do we make sense of a world that often seems absurd, fractured, and overwhelming? This panel brings together three authors who explore the humor, poignancy, and chaos of contemporary life, using sharp wit and inventive storytelling to illuminate the human experience.

The Commons Room 105 (Seats 217, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Lydia Millet, Jason Mott, Gary Shteyngart
Moderator: Ken Montaney
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of City of Tucson, Visit Tucson, Holly and Steve Shenitzer