PEN 2025 World Voices Festival – Bringing Back Books They Love

While much is discussed about the process of writing, a book’s release, and its critical reception, one part of a book’s journey often flies under the radar: the re-issue. The moment a beloved title is reintroduced to readers, complete with a fresh cover, updated blurbs, and a new life.

Join Joyce Carol Oates (Broke Heart Blues) and Carmen Boullosa (Texas: The Great Theft), and moderator Sabir Sultan, for an insightful conversation about revisiting their works in a world vastly different from when they were first released. What drew them to revisit these titles now, what do they love about the books and how do their evolving interests as writers shape their view of these works today?

Explore the re-issue process as a unique chapter in a book’s life, and discover how these beloved works continue to resonate today.

To purchase tickets, visit worldvoices.pen.org.