Welcome to the 2026-2027 edition of the Tumamoc Author Series, a collaboration between Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, the Southwest Center and the University of Arizona Press. In this third year, we continue the tradition of bringing original, diverse visions of the Southwest and engaging in lively conversations with our fellow Tumamoc pilgrims.
On October 21, we start by wondering what it was like to grow up in Tombstone, Arizona.Tucson Poet Laureate Logan Phillips, author of Reckon, will be in conversation with Melani Martinez, author of The Molino: A Memoir. Thoughtful, urgent, and deeply human, Reckon wrestles with questions of identity, place, and responsibility, inviting readers to confront what it means to live attentively in fraught and changing times. Whether reflecting on the natural world, social justice, or the quiet moments that shape our inner lives, Phillips’ voice offers insight, compassion, and challenge in equal measure. The two authors will explore the themes behind Reckon, the creative process, and the role of poetry as both witness and catalyst. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in conversation and connect with two of Tucson’s most compelling literary voices. Come listen, reflect, and reckon together.
