Join us for an exciting discussion on contemporary nature writing featuring authors Vanessa Chakour and Jennifer Kabat, whose recently published books explore provocative new ideas on the changing state of the natural world through the lens of their memoirs. 

Drawing on the field of animal behavior, Chakour’s Earthly Bodies (Penguin Life, 2024) connects human struggles to the predicaments of twenty-three species of wild animals—from wolves to sea lions—raising questions about our humanity as a way to understand how we might benefit from embracing our own animal nature to gain deeper self-actualization, find common ground with our fellow animals, and learn to thrive together. Following up on The Eighth Moon (2024), Nightshining: A Memoir in Four Floods (Milkweed Editions, 2025) follows Kabat through a flood that occurred during her first year living in Margaretville, New York. The memoir unfolds as a spiraling history, tracing connections across time—a historic flood in 1950, Cold War weather experiments, betrayals of the Mohawk nation, and Kurt Vonnegut. Ultimately, Nightshining is an exploration of community and place as a palimpsest of history.

Co-organized by Mass Audubon and moderated by Donovan Arthen, Executive Director of Orion Magazine, this conversation will delve into the relationship between ecology and experience, exploring the ways that a new generation of nature writers are expanding our understanding of the natural world and our place within it. 

Vanessa Chakour, author, naturalist, and former pro boxer, fosters intimacy with inner and outer wilds through writing, herbalism, martial arts, and land stewardship. Drawing on her vast personal experiences over two decades, she curates retreats and courses, inspiring creative expression through writing and movement workshops, and fostering intimacy with nature through an understanding of the plants, fungi, and animals who share our ecosystems. Vanessa facilitated experiences in partnership with organizations like the Wolf Conservation Center and the Jaguar Rescue Center and is a Project Coyote Ambassador. She is the author of Awakening Artemis, a memoir told through the lens of 24 medicinal plants, and Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature (2024), which delves into the parallels between human struggles and the experiences of our wild neighbors, offering insights on self-discovery and coexistence. She lives in Massachusetts where she stewards her local ecosystem, coaches boxing, and is a devoted student of nature. 

Jennifer Kabat is the author of the twinned memoirs The Eighth Moon (2024) and Nightshining (2025) published by Milkweed Editions. She received an Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant for her criticism and has been published in BOMB and The Best American Essays. Her writing has also appeared in Granta, Frieze, Harper’s, McSweeney’s, The Believer, Virginia Quarterly Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, The New York Review, and The White Review. A finalist for the essay prize at Notting Hill Editions, she often collaborates with artists. She’s part of the core faculty in the Design Research MA at the School of Visual Arts. An apprentice herbalist, she lives in rural New York and serves on her volunteer fire department. 

Donovan Arthen, Executive Director / Chief of Finance, Operations, People and Culture at Orion Magazine, is a community builder, management professional, and musician who grew up in the foothills of the Berkshires. Living and working in the nonprofit world, he found a professional passion for fostering operational and financial sustainability. He has his masters in Managing Mission Driven Organizations from Marlboro Professional and Graduate School, where he focused on leadership development and creating positive productive working environments and culture. Donovan brings with him a wide range of experiences and perspectives from his time traveling and learning from different peoples and places all over the world. 

Photos: Enrique Rosado (Chakour); CJ Harvey (Kabat)

This event is FREE and open to the public!
Seating is limited, registration is recommended.

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• This one-hour talk takes place in The Mount’s Stable Auditorium located in the white building adjacent to the parking lot. Please be mindful of the weather and plan accordingly!
• Seating for all programs at The Mount is first come, first served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early.
• Accessible seating is available! Please phone us in advance to discuss arrangements: 413-551-5111; ext. #2
• A book signing will follow this talk. Books can be purchased from The Mount Bookstore at the event or online from Bookshop.org.

Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org

This program is sponsored by:

What accessibility accommodations does The Mount offer? The Mount is a Massachusetts Cultural Council UP designated organization welcoming participants of all disabilities. Please contact us by phone: 413-551-5100 or by email: info@edithwharton.org to discuss accommodations needed to participate fully in this event. Golf carts will be available to shuttle those with mobility concerns between the parking lot and event venue. View The Mount’s Health and Safety Guidelines.