PEN America

05/13/2026

PEN America today expressed alarm over Duval County, Florida Public Schools’ removal of dozens of books without a clearly defined or transparent review process. Titles removed include books by notable authors like The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

PEN America today expressed alarm over Duval County, Florida Public Schools' removal of dozens of books without a clearly defined or transparent review process. Titles removed include books by notable authors like The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood,...

05/13/2026

PEN America launches America Speaks, a multimedia project to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by exploring the unfinished exercise of free expression in the United States. The initiative aims to gather perspectives from people across the country and spark conversation and debate.

Over the next year, the project will highlight voices reflecting on the nation’s founding principles, their promises, and their shortcomings, while imagining the future of free expression. The project will showcase voices from PEN America’s literary community as well as students, artists and teachers and people from all walks of life each contributing short written or audio responses. Submissions will be shared weekly on pen.org and across PEN America’s social media channels.

"We want to hear from anyone who wants to share thoughts, ideas, and aspirations about what free speech means — and what it should mean — in the United States today,” says PEN America’s Co-CEO Summer Lopez.

https://pen.org/press-release/reflect-on-free-speech-250-project/

PEN America launched America Speaks, a multimedia project to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by exploring the unfinished exercise of free expression in the United States.

05/13/2026

To mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, PEN America is starting a conversation around free expression in the U.S. and asking everyone to add their voice. Go to our site at pen.org/america-speaks to participate and look for new quotes here every week.

These quotes reflect the views of the speakers and not necessarily those of PEN America.

05/13/2026

What Zadie said about writers and freedom of speech https://substack.com/home/post/p-197354262 via Amitava Kumar

about writers and freedom of speech

05/12/2026

PEN America is yet again sounding the alarm on attacks against press freedom after a Wall Street Journal report indicated the news outlet received grand jury subpoenas for records of its reporters

Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to Wall Street Journal, a direct attack on press freedom, following complaints from the president

05/12/2026

May is Jewish American Heritage Month! Explore and celebrate Jewish experiences and lives from the start of our nation through the present day with PEN America. Find our newest reading list, which features 52 titles of varying genres for all ages, at: https://bookshop.org/lists/jewish-american-heritage-month-2026

Are we missing a favorite of yours? Let us know in the comments below.

05/12/2026

PEN America’s latest report on jailed writers is sounding the alarm on a deepening crackdown on free expression around the globe. This year’s Freedom to Write Index, released today, reports that 401 writers were held behind bars across 44 countries during 2025 – more writers and countries than have been recorded since the first report in 2019. China remained the world’s leading jailer of writers. The sharpest increase in writers jailed occurred in Iran, which intensified in the aftermath of the June 2025 war with Israel.

For the past seven years, the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center has tracked and verified reports of writers jailed or threatened for what they wrote, said, or created. Any case in which the writer was held for at least 48 hours is included in the Index for that year. This year is the first time the United States is included in the count of countries that jailed at least one writer.

While governments around the world increasingly suppress rights to free expression, long-awaited releases of jailed writers during 2025, such as in Belarus and Egypt, however limited, show the power of sustained attention, coordinated advocacy, and international solidarity. Learn more: ​​https://pen.org/press-release/2025-freedom-to-write-index/

05/11/2026

Following the death of her husband of 43 years, Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt set aside the half-finished novel she had planned to return to after his cancer treatments.

“I was not in any shape to write anything except about this man who had died,” she said in reflecting on her new book, Ghost Stories: A Memoir of Love & Grief. “I know Paul thought that I was going to go back and finish this novel… and in a way, we were both stupid, because I should have known that that’s the only thing I could do, and he, if he had thought about it, might have known, too.”

Read more about Hustvedt's PEN World Voices conversation with Pulitzer Prize finalist Katie Kitamura (Audition) at the link in our bio.

05/11/2026

Jack Reacher has faced down criminals, corrupt officials, and impossible odds, always coming out on top. Now Lee and Andrew Child, the brother duo behind one of the most successful thriller franchises in publishing history, will name a character after you (or someone you love) in their next book. Whether your character crosses Reacher's path as a friend or a foe, one thing is certain: the story will keep you up well past your bedtime.

All proceeds from PEN America's Character Naming Auction directly support our new Author Safety Program, which is designed to protect writers facing harassment, threats, and intimidation both online and in person.

Bid now through May 15 at: https://givebutter.com/c/pen-america-name-a-character-auction-gd4zkb/auction/items/1900651

05/10/2026

How does the work of writing actually get done? We asked some of the highly accomplished writers at the Festival to share their personalized writing habits, setups and rituals.

Do any of these sound familiar to you? Leave a comment if you have a writing tip or trick you want to share.

05/10/2026

Imagine seeing your name in the pages of a bestselling novel… PEN America is offering you the opportunity to be in your next favorite book or show.

Bid now in our Character Naming Auction for a chance to have your name — or a loved one’s — in an upcoming work by one of these beloved authors, and receive a signed copy. Participating authors include:

Jodi Picoult
David Baldacci
Jennifer Egan
Scott Frank
Christina Lauren
Brigid Kemmerer
Sarah MacLean
Rebecca Makkai
Jean Hanff Korelitz
Lee and Andrew Child

All proceeds from the auction directly support PEN America’s new Author Safety Program, designed to protect writers facing harassment, threats, and intimidation both online and in person.

Bid now through May 15 at: pen.org/2026-character-auction