Gish Jen

Charles Baxter

The fifth annual festival held March 26-29 connects 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 activists, 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, poet and coordinator of WCU’s English education program.

“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 A.K. Hinds University Center Theater. Events include:

Monday, March 26 – 2 p.m. Works Progress Administration talks, films and readings; and 7:30 p.m. poets 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; and 7 pm. 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. Saturday March 10 and March 17 at the Jackson County Public Library. Call (828) 227-3925 to register.

Contact the WCU English department at (828) 227-7264, e-mail Mary Adams at madams@email.wcu.edu or visit 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. The mission of the North Carolina Arts Council is to make North Carolina a better state through the arts. A division of the Department of Cultural Resources, the Arts Council serves as a catalyst for the development of arts organizations and facilities throughout North Carolina with grant funding and technical assistance.