By Jordan Beach
Reinhardt University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is bringing renowned authors to campus for the third summer in a row.
“Reinhardt’s Etowah Valley MFA Program seamlessly combines creative writing workshops, craft lectures and literary matters with an array of visiting writers to create a summer experience unlike anywhere else in the South,” said program coordinator Bill Walsh. “The Summer Reading Series displays the very best in contemporary fiction, poetry, non-fiction and intellectual thought with such esteemed authors such as Denise Duhamel, Valerie Boyd, Earl Braggs, George Singleton, Mary Anna Bryan and many others.”
The MFA in Creative Writing at Reinhardt University, known as the Etowah Valley Writers Institute, will host readings as part of its summer residency, a 10-day series that welcomes the community to join the graduate students to enjoy evenings featuring esteemed writers. All readings are free and open to the public.
The reading events will take place June 20-25 and June 27-29 at 7 p.m. The first evening will include readings from John Williams, Anne Corbitt and Ray Atkins on Thursday. That weekend will also feature Robert Olmstead and Denise Duhamel on Friday, Earl Braggs on Saturday and Megan Sexton on Sunday.
Monday will start off a new week with readings from Gray Stewart and Valerie Boyd. Craig Amason will read from “The Life of Lillian Smith” on Thursday, June 27, along with readings from Dr. Eustace Palmer. The second weekend of readings will feature Rob Merritt on Friday, followed by George Singleton on Saturday to finish this year’s series.
For those interested in honing their writing skills, slots are available for participation in the writing workshops for fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and screenwriting. For more information, contact Bill Walsh at BJW@Reinhardt.edu.
To learn more about the featured writers, core and guest faculty, and the Etowah Valley MFA, visit www.reinhardt.edu/mfa-cw.