The University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Reno is pleased to announce the 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame (NVWHOF) honorees along with its 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame event programming line-up.

Steven Nightingale is the 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame inductee. Vogue Robinson is the 2021 Silver Pen awardee.

“Building off of the excitement and energy of the 2020 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame virtual event, we are pleased to announce this year’s Writers Hall of Fame and Silver Pen honorees,” Dean of University Libraries and Teaching & Learning Technologies Kathy Ray said. “With several opportunities for engagement planned throughout the year, it is my hope Nevadans take a moment to get to know the great writers of our state as we lead up to welcoming Steven and Vogue to the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame family at our official induction event scheduled for November 18, 2021.”

2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Inductee

Steven Nightingale is the 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame inductee. Nightingale is the author of ten books: two novels, six books of sonnets, a long essay on the city of Granada, Spain, and a book of short fictions about extraordinary women. A book on the Sierra Nevada is forthcoming in 2022 from Cornell University Press.

“I feel exceptionally lucky and uncontrollably shy to be included in a group of such gifted writers,” Nightingale said.  “My thanks to any and all who thought me worthy.”

Nightingale’s interests include the medieval art of Spain and Italy, the wild country of the American West, astronomy, venture capital, and Emily Dickinson. He serves as sole Trustee of the Nightingale Family Foundation, which works to make sure that the beauties and blessings of art and culture are open and available to every child and to everyone in our community. He is a graduate of Stanford University, lives currently in his beloved home state of Nevada.

 2021 Silver Pen Awardee

Vogue Robinson is the 2021 Silver Pen awardee. Robinson served as the second poet laureate of Clark County, Nevada (2017-2019). She is the author of Vogue 3:16 (a poetry collection). Her work has been published in multiple anthologies. Robinson is a graduate of San Diego State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in English in preparation for a teaching credential. In addition to her writing, Robinson regularly collaborates with community organizations to promote poetry and the arts in Clark County.

"I feel like I've been inducted into a larger part of Nevada's history and that is really exciting,” Robinson said. “I've read about the history of the Silver Pen Award; it's inspiring to see how the award has expanded from its inception in 1996 to today."

2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Programming

• July 16  The Sierra Through Sonnets, Science & Song (free)

The University Libraries and Nevada Writers Hall of Fame is pleased to host this multi-media presentation featuring 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame inductee Steven Nightingale and Director of Earth Systems Programs at Stanford Richard Nevle. The pair will share writings and experiences from their 90-mile hiking adventure through the Sierra Nevada.  Selected from their upcoming book, the readings will share insights about the Sierra Nevada from both lyrical and science perspectives. Joining them will be singer and songwriter Deborah Levoy and 2018 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame inductee Robert Leonard Reid. The event will feature readings, stories, music and photography as the group shares moments and places from their adventure.

• July 30 Roots & Shoots (free)

The University Libraries and the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame present Roots & Shoots, bringing together an established writer and an up-and-coming writer to share their work and writing insights. This session of Roots & Shoots will feature New York Times bestselling novelist Ellen Hopkins as our Root and Daughter Tongue author and poet Joanne Mallari as our Shoot. The event will feature readings and comments by the authors followed by a discussion moderated by author and educator Chris Coake.

• November 18 The 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame / Save the date!

Join us for an entertaining evening as we celebrate our 2021 honorees. Details to come.

• December 4 Poetry & Prose: A Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Writers Workshop (free) / Save the date!

The free workshop will feature three sessions, one of which will be led by 2021 inductee Steven Nightingale.  Details to come.

Visit the 2021 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame website to learn more about this year’s honorees and opportunities for engagement with the authors.

About the University Libraries

The University Libraries embrace intellectual inquiry and innovation, nurture the production of new knowledge, and foster excellence in learning, teaching and research. During each academic year, the Libraries welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors across its network of three libraries: the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library and the Savitt Medical Library. Visitors checked-out more than 80,000 items and completed more than two million database searches.