Sun Valley Writers' Conference brings Pulitzer winners to Idaho
Jill Lepore, Ilyon Woo, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Atul Gawande join Marcia Franklin for recorded conversations at the 2026 event.
By Samantha Reed ·
Four authors joined Marcia Franklin for recorded interviews at the 2026 Sun Valley Writers' Conference. The sessions feature recent Pulitzer Prize winners and a prominent surgeon discussing their latest work.
Jill Lepore, a Harvard University professor and bestselling author, discussed her book "We the People." The conversation centers on Article V of the U.S. Constitution and the amendment process. Lepore argues that the difficulty of amending the document impacts democracy.
Ilyon Woo talked about her Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Master Slave Husband Wife." The book details the escape of Ellen and William Craft, an enslaved couple who disguised themselves to flee Georgia. Woo explained what drew her to their story and why it remains relevant today.
Julian Brave NoiseCat, an author and filmmaker, discussed his memoir "We Survived the Night." He also covered his Academy Award-nominated documentary "Sugarcane." Both works explore the trauma of Canadian Indian boarding schools and his relationship with his father.
Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and bestselling author, shared insights on his writing career. The interview also addressed his time leading the U.S. Agency for International Development. That agency was dismantled by the second Trump administration in 2025.
Source: Idaho Public Television · original report published
