Megan McDowell – Walton Visiting Writer in Translation - 2026-2027

Megan McDowell is one of the leading translators of contemporary Latin American literature, having translated works by Samanta Schweblin, Alejandro Zambra, Mariana Enriquez, Lina Meruane, and many other acclaimed writers. Her translations have won the National Book Award for Translated Literature, the English PEN Award, the Premio Valle-Inclán, and three O. Henry Prizes, and have been nominated four times for the International Booker Prize. In 2020 she received an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her translations have appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The New York Times Magazine, Tin House, McSweeney's, and Granta, among other publications. Originally from Richmond, Kentucky, she lives in Santiago, Chile. This event is made possible by University of Arkansas MFA Program in Creative Writing and Translation, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the English department, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Fayetteville Public Library. Author photo credit: Mauricio Duarte Arrartia. For disability accommodations, call 479.856.7250 or email questions@faylib.org 2-3 weekdays before a program. Plan your visit by viewing our building map and details on accessibility services.