Mary Ann Samyn, associate professor of creative writing at West Virginia University, will give a reading of her award-winning poetry on Wednesday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. The reading will take place in room 130 of Colson Hall located at the Downtown Campus. The reading is free and open to the public.
Samyn is the author of five full-length collections of poetry including “My Life in Heaven,” winner of the 2012 FIELD Poetry Prize (Oberlin College Press, 2013), “Beauty Breaks In” (New Issues, 2009), “Purr” (New Issues, 2005), “Inside the Yellow Dress” (New Issues, 2001), and “Captivity Narrative” (Ohio State UP, 1999). She has also authored two chapbooks, “The Boom of a Small Cannon” (Dancing Girl Press, 2010) and “Rooms by the Sea” (Kent State UP, 1994). Her work has appeared in numerous publications like Field, Colorado Review, Kenyon Review, The Journal, Third Coast, Verse, Mid-American Review, Pleiades.
Samyn received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Virginia, where she was a Hoyns Fellow. Among her awards are a creative artist grant from ArtServe Michigan, the Emily Dickinson Prize from the Poetry Society of America, the James Wright Poetry Award from Mid-American Review, and a Pushcart Prize.
She has also received Eberly College and WVU Foundation awards for outstanding teaching and research, the Gaston Caperton Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Writing, and the Benedum Distinguished Scholar in the Humanities Award. She currently holds the Bolton Professorship for Teaching and Mentoring.
“Mary Ann Samyn writes exquisite poetry, and it’s always a pleasure to hear her read,” said Mark Brazaitis, professor of English and the director of WVU’s Creative Writing Program. “She’ll be reading from her new book—an occasion to celebrate. If you haven’t heard Mary Ann read, you’ll want to attend. If you have read her work, you’ll already have blocked off April 3 on your calendar.”
For more information, contact Mark Brazaitis, at 304-293-9707 or Mark.Brazaitis@mail.wvu.edu
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