Megan Kate Nelson

Photograph by Sharona Jacobs

Born and raised in Colorado, Megan Kate Nelson is a writer and historian based in Boston. Her most recent book is "The Westerners." She has written about US western history, the Civil War, and American culture for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Smithsonian Magazine. Nelson earned her BA in history and literature from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in American studies from the University of Iowa. She is also the author of "Saving Yellowstone" and  "The Three-Cornered War," a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

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Awards: Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History, 2021 (for "The Three-Cornered War")

Friends and Sponsors Only: Hot Off the Press

Sponsors and Friends of the Festival are invited to a books launch party with authors in attendance.

Campus Store - Hot Off the Press (Seats 250, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 8:00 am - 9:00 am

Panelists: David Blumenthal, C.J. Box, Elle Cosimano, Elon Green, Adib Khorram, T Kira Madden, Loubna Mrie, Megan Kate Nelson, Keith O'Brien, Caroline Paul

Undiscovered Country

In this session, Paul Andrew Hutton, author of “The Undiscovered Country,” and Megan Kate Nelson, author of “The Westerners,” will bring new perspectives to history we thought we knew.

UA Campus Store Stage (Seats 250)  
Sat, Mar 14, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
History / Biography
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  

Panelists: Paul Hutton, Megan Kate Nelson
Moderator: Charles Rankin
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity - Arizona Alpha Chapter, UA Campus Store, Susan and John Madden

When Fact Becomes Legend

Megan Kate Nelson, author of “The Westerners,” Peter Cozzens, author of “Deadwood,” and Paul Andrew Hutton, author of “The Undiscovered Country,” discuss the myth and the reality of the American West.

Integrated Learning Center Room 120 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
History / Biography
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  

Panelists: Peter Cozzens, Paul Hutton, Megan Kate Nelson
Moderator: Bruce Dinges
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Hudson Group, Marshall Foundation, Betty G. Bengtson

Books:

The Westerners

Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier
History / Biography
Scribner
March 2026
ISBN 9781668004340
448 pages
Buy now

Saving Yellowstone

Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America
History / Biography
Simon and Schuster
April 2023
ISBN 9781982141356
320 pages
Buy now