West Virginia University Press is pleased to announce the publication of “Still Life with Plums” by Marie Manilla, a West Virginia native and graduate of the famous Iowa Writers Workshop.

Her new collection of short stories weaves together the outwardly distant lives of several strangers from the southern portion of the U.S., including a “Black-Irish” West Virginian, a wise-cracking dog groomer, an emasculated husband, a Guatemalan widow, a Japanese-Latin-American poster child from World War II, and a meticulous predator.

WVU Press and Morgantown Writers are co-sponsoring a literary arts program that combines a short story reading by Manilla at Morgantown’s Arts Monongahela Gallery on Friday (Oct. 29) at 6:30 p.m. and a writing workshop led by Manilla at the Morgantown Public Library on Saturday (Oct. 30) from 10:30-11:45 a.m.

This two-day literary arts program includes:

• A reading and book signing on Friday (Oct. 29) with a writers reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by Manilla’s reading at 7:15 p.m. Musical entertainment and light refreshments provided.

• “Put the ‘Wow!’ into Your Short Story” workshop on Saturday (Oct. 30) led by Professor of Creative Writing Marie Manilla. Hosted by Morgantown Writers, this workshop will emphasize techniques that help writers get the attention of editors and readers. To register for this public writing workshop, contact Patricia Patteson at Patricia.Patteson@mail.wvu.edu. There is a small fee for materials and registration is required. Seating is limited to 12 writers.

This literary arts program is made possible through the collaboration of the WVU Press, Arts Monongahela Gallery and Morgantown Writers. WVU Press is the official press of West Virginia University, publishing a range of journals and books. Arts Monongahela is a leader in promoting the arts in Monongalia County. Since 1994, MWG Writers have hosted literary arts events and provided resources, workshops, and services for writers in north central West Virginia. This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Morgantown Public Library.

Other local appearances by Marie Manilla include:

Thursday (Dec. 2) – Huntington, W.Va.: Reading at 8 p.m. with poet Chris Green at Marshall University, Memorial Student Center, Shawkey Room. Free and open to the public. Joe Vance at the MU bookstore will be ordering books.

To purchase a copy of “Still Life with Plums” visit www.wvupress.com. For more information, or to book Marie Manilla for an appearance, contact Abby Freeland, marketing manager at WVU Press, at (304) 293-8400 ext. 33508 or abby.freeland@mail.wvu.edu

-WVU-

10/25/10

CONTACT: Abby Freeland, WVU Press marketing manager
304-293-8400 ext. 33508 or abby.freeland@mail.wvu.edu

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