This year, the annual Literary Festival will host five writers ranging from novelists to songwriters. The event, which has previously been held in the winter, will take place on Nov. 14. Guest writers are invited to talk to class and participate on a forum in front of the upper school. On Thursday, Nov. 13, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Lit Fest director David Brown will host a free writer’s forum with Andy Weir, this years Brent P. Johnson ’89 Guest Writer.
Andy Weir – Brent P. Johnson ’89 Guest Writer
Weir is science-fiction author who has received acclaim for his novels The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary. As a former software engineer and a space enthusiast, Weir creates scientifically-accurate stories set on Mars, the moon and Venus. Weir’s accolades include the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and being nominated for the Hugo Award in 2022. Both The Martian and Project Hail Marry have been adapted into movies, with Project Hail Marry set to debut in March of 2026.
Joshua Davis
Davis is an educator and singer-songwriter from Michigan whose music is folk-based and combines elements of rock, soul and blues. The co-founder of On Stage 4 Kids, Davis helps to educate Midwest students on music history, culture and songwriting. Davis also serves as the Director of Popular Music at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Davis also placed third in season eight of The Voice, and he has released eight albums.
Candace Fleming
Fleming has written over fifty children and young adult books, including Amelia Lost and The Family Romanov. She has received several awards for her work, especially for her novels about historical figures. Fleming is a recipient of the Sibert Medal, the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Horn Book Award and the Sibert Honor.
Angela Gulner
Gulner is a Dallas-based screenwriter and director who works mostly in the horror genre. Gulner is a Harvard A.R.T Institute graduate whose work has appeared on Lifetime and Hallmark. She is the creator and producer of BINGE, and the director of the movie The Beldham, which premiered at the Stiges Film Festival in 2025. Gulner is also a co-founder of Wicked Myth Films.
Gopal Raman ’17
A St. Mark’s graduate, Raman is a published writer and investor at South Park Commons. Raman also taught writing as a National Student Poet. As part of the National Student Poets Program in 2016, he read his poem “Aug. 23, 2005,” at the White House. Raman served as the student director of the Lit Fest as a Marksman.
