West Virginia novelist Marie Manilla and half a dozen other writers of national prominence will give readings at the West Virginia Writers’ Workshop on West Virginia University’s downtown campus July 17-20.
Manilla, from Huntington, is the author of the just-released novel “The Patron Saint of Ugly,” which “Kirkus Reviews” describes as a “clear-eyed, touching fable of a girl learning the hard truths about herself and others.”
All readings are free and open to the public. They will be followed by receptions and book signings.
The readings begin Thursday, July 17, at 8 p.m. in room 130 of Colson Hall with David Hassler, an anthologist, oral historian, memoirist, and the author of two books of poems, the most recent of which, “Red Kimono,” “Yellow Barn,” earned him the 2006 Ohio Poet of the Year prize, and Jon Tribble, a poet and managing editor of the “Crab Orchard Review” and series editor of the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry.
WVU Master of Fine Arts graduates Renee Nicholson, the author of the soon-to-be-released book of poems “Roundabout Directions to Lincoln Center,” and Natalie Sypolt, the author of numerous published stories, will read Friday, July 18, at 1:30 p.m. in E. Moore Hall.
Allison Joseph, the author of six collections of poems, including “Imitation of Life” and “My Father’s Kite,” will read with Mark Brazaitis, the workshop’s director and the author of six books, including the novel “Julia & Rodrigo” and the story collection “The Incurables,” Friday, July 18, at 8 p.m. in room 130 of Colson Hall.
The readings of published authors will conclude Saturday, July 19, at 1:30 p.m. in room 130 of Colson Hall, with Manilla’s reading. She will share the podium with James Harms, the chair of the Department of English and the author of 10 books of poems, including “The Joy Addict,” winner of the PEN/Revson Fellowship.
“We’re thrilled to have such great authors on campus,” Brazaitis said. “I urge anyone interested in good writing to come hear these outstanding poets, memoirists, and fiction writers. It’s great entertainment, and you can’t beat the price of admission.”
For more information, contact Mark Brazaitis at 304-293-9707 or Mark.Brazaitis@mail.wvu.edu or go to the West Virginia Writers’ Workshop Web site at http://english.wvu.edu/centers-projects/west-virginia-writers-workshop.
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mb/07/10/14
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