Don’t Miss Exponent II Sessions at Sunstone Next Week!

Exponent II is hosting and participating in exciting sessions at this year’s Sunstone Symposium. All Exponent II related sessions are on Saturday, August 2

Learn more about Sunstone (July 31–August 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah) and register to attend here.

Author Meets Critic: 50 years of Exponent II

Saturday, August 2
9:00 am – 10:00 am

Authors Katie Ludlow Rich and Heather Sundahl will discuss their book “Fifty Years of Exponent II” (Signature Books, 2024) with a panel of critics. “Fifty Years of Exponent II” chronicles the evolution of a groundbreaking Mormon feminist publication that has created space for women’s voices, questions, and community across generations. This history reveals how women and gender minorities—often on the margins—shaped conversations around gender, faith, and power within and beyond the LDS Church. Joining the authors will be discussion moderator Millie Tullis (she/they), the new editor-in-chief of Exponent II magazine; Maxine Hanks, author of “Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism”; Susan Hinckley and Cynthia Winward, hosts of the “At Last She Said It” podcast; and Blaire Ostler, author of “Queer Mormon Theology.”

Speakers:

· Katie Ludlow Rich (she/her)

· Heather Sundahl

· Maxine Hanks

· Susan Hinckley

· Cynthia Winward

· Blaire Ostler

· Millie Tullis (she/they)

Writers of Witness: A Reading from the Exponent II Community

Saturday, August 2
10:25 am – 11:55 am

Exponent II provides feminist forums for women and gender minorities across the Mormon spectrum to share their art and stories and foster community and acceptance. This session will feature a variety of readings published by the Exponent II magazine and blog, highlighting some of the best in contemporary writing by women and gender minorities across the Mormon spectrum. Readers include poets, essayists, and bloggers. Millie Tullis will emcee, introducing each reader and managing the time. Each reader will read for 5-7 minutes, and there will be a short window of time for questions/comments at the end.

· Cynthia W. Connell (she/her)

· R.A. Davis

· Jody England Hansen (she/her)

· Abby Maxwell Hansen (she/her)

· Melody Newey Johnson

· Melissa Malcolm King

· Alma Frances Pellett

· Elizabeth Pinborough (she/her)

· Natasha Rogers (she/her)

· Melissa Tyler (she/her)

· Millie Tullis (she/they)

“as if / one pair of eyes were a whole hive”: Writing the Personal, Writing in Community (a Generative Poetry and Essay Writing Workshop)

Saturday, August 2
5:55 pm – 6:55 pm

Workshop with Millie Tullis, Exponent II, incoming Editor-in-Chief

In May Swenson’s poem, “The Truth Is Forced,” she states, “One must be honest somewhere. I wish / to be honest in poetry.” Swenson compares truth-telling to “taking off my clothes,” and describes how “your eyes would swarm me… cloying, itching, greedy bees.” To Swenson, telling the truth is bold and exposing. She confesses, “Really, I feel as if / one pair of eyes were a whole hive.” This generative creative-writing workshop will begin with a close reading of May Swenson’s “The Truth Is Forced;” participants will briefly discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise from telling the truth about ourselves and our communities in our writing. Participants will be provided with a variety of poetry and personal essay prompts touching on personal experiences within Mormonism, family, culture, and memory. Workshop participants will then write in community for 30-45 minutes. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to briefly share, discuss, and respond to each other’s new work at the close of the workshop. Participants do not need to have any previous creative writing experience. All writing levels and identities are welcome to join.

Photo by Anna Ream Photography, taken in 2024 at the “Fifty Years of Exponent II” launch party in Massachusetts.