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Literary Fest to feature Gish Jen, Charles Baxter
Award-winning writer Charles Baxter, whose novella “The Feast of Love” inspired a movie to be released this fall starring Morgan Freeman, Alexa Davalos and Greg Kinnear, joins authors who will be featured at Western Carolina University’s Spring Literary Festival.
The fifth annual festival planned for Tuesday, March 27, through Friday, March 30, will connect internationally diverse writers of poetry, fiction and nonfiction with WCU students and the Western North Carolina community through free readings, question-and-answer sessions, book signings and a community writing workshop.
“This year, the festival will reach out to different audiences, not just our loyal regulars,” said Mary Adams, associate professor of English and festival director. “We have poetry about Elvis, and stories adapted for the screen. Nick Taylor, a Western graduate, has just finished a book on the Works Progress Administration. I’m particularly excited about our strong international focus.”
In addition to African poet Tanure Ojaide and Iranian-born fiction-writer Farnoosh Moshiri, who fled her country in 1983 after a massive arrest of secular intellectuals, feminists and political activist, the festival brings Gish Jen, award-winning second generation Chinese-American fiction-writer, to WCU. Jen is the author of “Typical American” and “Mona in the Promised Land.”
Other guests include Fleda Brown, poet laureate of Delaware, R.T. Smith, poet and short story author, and Catherine Carter.
“We have writers who are wise, funny and serious, but all very clear and accessible – definitely something for everyone,” Adams said.
All readings and panel discussions are free and open to the public and will be held in Western’s Hinds University Center Theater. Events include:
Monday, March 26 – 2 p.m. Works Progress Administration talks, films and readings; and 7:30 p.m. Fleda Brown and Catherine Carter.
Tuesday, March 27 – 2 p.m. R.T. Smith; and 7:30 p.m. Nick Taylor
Wednesday, March 28 – 2 p.m. Tanure Ojaide; and 7:30 pm. Gish Jen.
Thursday, March 29 – 12 p.m. Panel discussion featuring Charles Baxter, Catherine Carter, Farnoosh Moshiri and Tanure Ojaide; 2 p.m. Farnoosh Moshiri; 5 p.m.; and 7 p.m. Charles Baxter.
The festival also invites literary fans to write their own personal and local histories in a free, two-day free writing workshop held from 1-3 p.m. on two Saturdays, March 10 and 17, at the Jackson County Public Library. Call 227-3925 to register.
Contact the WCU English department at 227-7264, e-mail Mary Adams at madams@email.wcu.edu or visit online at http://www.litfestival.org for more information.
Festival sponsors are the English department; Office of the Chancellor; Office of the Provost; Lectures, Concerts and Exhibitions Series; and the North Carolina Arts Council.
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