Events & Visiting Writers

One of the features of our new Writing Specialization major is a class with visiting writers. We call it the Contemporary Writers Colloquium (Eng. 468). In it, students will read the work of some well-established creative writers who will come to the class and respond to the creative work of students. This is followed by an evening public reading given by the professional writer. In 2006, we had David Wojahn (Yale Younger Poet Award winner, and author of five books of poetry from the University of Pittsburg Press, including his Selected Poems called Interrogation Palace); Justin Tussing (a fiction writer whose novel The Best People In the World was published by HapperCollins, and whose short fiction has appeared in the NewYorker, TriQuarterly, and Third Coast); and Lucia Perillo (recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius" award, winner of both the Kate and Kingsley Tufts prizes, the Norma Farber Award, and author of four books of poetry including Dangerous Life, Body Mutinies, Luck is Luck, and The Oldest Map With The Name America).

Lion Rock Visiting Writers Series

We also sponsor the Lion Rock Visiting Writers series of readings. Besides the writers who attend the Contemporary Writers Colloquium, we sponsor a reading during fall and winter quarters as well. We also sponsor readings by faculty and students, including a reading for students who have their work published in our annual magazine, Manastash.

Reading Schedule

	Wednesday, January 16, 7:30 p.m. Joseph Powell Author of three collections of poetry: Counting the Change, Winter Insomnia and Getting Here. He has also published a book on meter called Accent on Meter: A Handbook for Readers of Poetry . Location: Mary Grupe Center
	Tuesday, February 12, 7:30 p.m. Terry Martin Author of two collections of poetry: Wishboats and The Secret Language of Women. Wishboats won the Judges' Choice Award at Seattle 's Bumbershoot Book Fair. She is the recipient of CWU's Distinguished Professor Teaching Award and the CASE/Carnegie Washington Professor of the Year Award. Location: Mary Grupe Center
	Tuesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. Alice Derry Author of three collections of poetry: Stages of Twilight, Clearwater and Strangers to their Courage. Her first book was chosen for publication by Raymond Carver. Location: Mary Grupe Center
	Tuesday, April 29, 7:30 p.m. Michael Mejia Author of one novel: Forgetfulness. He is the recipient of an NEA Literature Fellowship in Prose. Location: Mary Grupe Center
	Tuesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m. Oliver de la Paz Author of two collections of poetry: Names Above the Houses and Furious Lullaby. He is a recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship and Names Above the Houses was a winner of the Crab Orchard Award Series. Location: Mary Grupe Center