The Young Authors Academy is an in-person creative writing camp for kids hosted at USM every summer. The camp includes interactive writing activities, daily on-campus walking field trips, a printed anthology featuring the work of each camper, and a showcase reading on the last day of camp that is open to all family and friends.
Summer 2026 Dates and Registration
The 2026 Young Authors Academy will take place June 1-5 from 1:00-5:00 pm on USM’s campus. The camp is open to ages 9-14 and costs $200.
To register for the camp, use this link. Instructions for how to pay are included at the end of the registration form. If you have any issues or questions, feel free to email us at usmyoungauthorsacademy@gmail.com.
To guarantee a spot in the camp, registration and payment is due by May 18th. Camp registration fills quickly though, and we often have a waitlist.
The 2026 Young Authors Academy is now full. If you'd like to be put on a waitlist, email us at the address below.
Email: usmyoungauthorsacademy@gmail.com.
Summer 2026 Staff
Camp Coordinator
Rachael Fowler earned her PhD in Creative Writing (Fiction) from USM, where she currently serves as Editor of Mississippi Review and Assistant Teaching Professor of English. Her writing is published in The Literary Review, North American Review’s Open Space, Southern Humanities Review, Deep South Magazine, Prime Number Magazine, and Fugue. In addition, she has been awarded funding through the Mississippi Arts Commission and residencies with Vermont Studio Center, Nocefresca, Yaddo, The Studios at MASS MoCA, and 560 Railroad Street Community Artist Residency.
Camp Facilitator
Madi Brown is a writer and teacher from the South. She holds an MA from Mississippi State University and an MFA from the University of Central Florida. She is currently a second-year PhD student in English (Creative Writing) at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she teaches Composition and serves as an Associate Editor for Mississippi Review. Her creative works can be found with Rain Taxi, Rejection Letters, Hoxie Gorge Review and elsewhere.
Camp Counselor
B Beasley (they/them) is currently a PhD in English Literature student and Graduate Instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi. Their field of research consists of contemporary fiction using queer and trans theories, with an interest in Art History. As a Graduate Instructor at USM, they have taught each first-year Composition course, including ENG 101, ENG 102, and ENG 100E. Their pedagogical research interests, which influence their classroom environments, are inspired by critical pedagogy, with a focus on student-centered learning, anti-racist writing practices, and student reading habits.
Camp Counselor
Dr. Katie McKenzie is a poet who earned her PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi and an MFA at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her poetry can be found in Denver Quarterly, The McNeese Review, BOOTH, Gulf Coast, and elsewhere. At USM, she teaches a range of classes including Composition and Creative Writing.