New York Times bestselling author Virginia Evans, a James Madison University alumna, will visit her alma mater on April 9, 2026, for a reading and discussion of her debut novel, The Correspondent. The event, free and open to the public, features a conversation with Associate Professor Dr. Sofia Samatar. Evans's book, published in April 2025, topped the bestseller list in February 2026.
Virginia Evans, who earned her bachelor's degree in English literature from James Madison University, has achieved national acclaim with her debut novel, The Correspondent. Published in April 2025 by Crown, an imprint of Penguin Random House, the book is structured as a novel in letters and follows 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp, a retired lawyer, divorced mother, and grandmother. Through correspondence, Sybil attempts to heal old wounds and confront a painful period from her past when unexpected letters arrive.
The novel quickly became a phenomenon, reaching number one on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction in February 2026. On March 4, 2026, Evans discussed the book in an interview on WBUR's Here & Now with host Robin Young, highlighting its themes centered on a retired attorney.
To celebrate her success and connect with her alma mater, the JMU Department of English, College of Arts and Letters, and Honors College are hosting Evans on campus. The event includes a reading and Q&A session at Forbes Concert Hall, located at 147 Warsaw Avenue in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public, with copies of The Correspondent available for purchase and a brief book-signing afterward.
Evans later pursued a master's in philosophy in creative writing at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, studying under authors including Carlo Gébler, Eoin McNamee, Claire Keegan, Harry Clifton, and Kevin Power. She resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her husband Mark, children Jack and Mae, and their Red Labrador, Brigid.