Star of the 2025 sessions on the theme Embracing the Marginalized in Literature and Life, was 2023 National Book Award winner Justin Torres. His three appearances were co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of English at Loyola University of New Orleans. His important stand- alone talk was on campus, with welcome remarks by Dean Leonard Kahn, while English Department Chair Tracey Watts introduced Torres with an essay on his novel Blackouts, paving the way for his talk, The Fiction of History: Who Decides What is Real and What Gets Erased?
Dr. Watts has generously given the Faulkner Society permission to reproduce her essay on Torres and his work here on this web site. To read her essay Click Here. The essay is a gem for readers and writers who want to get to know this brilliant young American writer and his work. The Torres book, Blackouts, is characterized by passages of inspired literary beauty and its clear representation of the dangers of marginalization. In this case the narrative is about  the marginalization not only of gays as a group, but the erasure of their true history,  erasure of their artistic products or redaction, blackouts—without author agreement—of passages that do not please self-anointed, ill-educated censors and  book banners.
Torres and prize-winning Tulane Writer-in-Residence, Yuri Herrera addressed the same subject matter at an evening event at Beauregard – Keyes House. And Torres joined legendary editor/publisher Cindy Speigel  in an advice session for developing writers.
Other 2025 Headliners
Other stars of Faulkner for All, 2025 included three outstanding women of literature: historian/storyteller Caroline Stanley, the Countess of Derby; Claire Hoffman, non-fiction author and journalist; and 2025’s Louisiana Writer of the Year, poet
Julie Kane.

The latest offering from Lady Derby, Caroline Stanley, is: The American Journal of Edward Geoffrey Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby. It is an engaging example of how to use one’s heritage to illuminate history for others. Lady Derby was special guest of honor at a reception and presentation of her new book. A joint project of the Society and the English Speaking Union, the event was hosted by world famous restaurateurs Ti Martin and Lally Brennan, owners of Commander’s Palace, a major  2025 festival sponsor.
Claire Hoffmann launched her career as a journalist writing features for the New York Times. Her childhood experiences, living with her divorced mother in a Transcendental  Meditation Movement community, have given her special insight for her new book, which  tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Aimee Semple McPherson, whose mysterious life made headlines in the 1920s and paved the way for televangelism. Sister, Sinner traces the spectacular life and career of this preacher who started a Christian movement that has spread across the globe and arguably shapes United States politics today

Poet Julie Kane, named 2025 Louisiana Writer of the Year by the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana, presented her new collection, Naked Ladies and read from Faulkner’s book of poetry, The Marble Faun, on the final day of Faulkner for All  September 28. This outstanding writer and educator, author of multiple collections of poetry, as well as other works, judged the Society’s Individual Poem competition.
 And they were joined by a whole slew of other exceptional literary personalities, including notable literary agents, editors, and marketing professionals who critiqued new work and presented advice sessions for registered writers.

For a complete Schedule of 2025 Faulkner for All! Events and Presenters, Click Here!