Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series

2007-2008 Writing Series

Monday,
October 1, 2007 8:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

Short Stories

George Saunders

Drue Heinz Literature Prize Reading and Award Ceremony

Kirk Nesset - Winner

Hilary Masters - Judge

Tuesday,
October 23, 2007 8:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

Poetry Reading

Jan Freeman

Allison Joseph

Wednesday,
October 24, 2007 2:00 p.m.

501 Cathedral of Learning

Discussion: Publishing Poets

Jan Freeman

Allison Joseph

April Ossmann

Martha Rhodes

Wednesday,
October 24, 2007 8:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

Poetry Reading

April Ossman

Martha Rhodes

Thursday,
November 8, 2007 8:30 p.m.

343 Alumni Hall

Fred R. Brown Literary Award

Don Lee - Novelist

Wednesday,
February 6, 2008
8:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

Poetry Reading

Ellen Bass

Wednesday,
February 27, 2008
8:30 p.m.

Frick Fine Arts Auditorium

2007-08 William Block Sr. Writer

Philip Gourevitch
Author and Editor, The Paris Review

Wednesday,
March 5, 2008
6:00 p.m.

501 Cathedral of Learning

Discussion: Writing and Social Responsibility

Elmaz Abinader

Andrew Lam

Tim Bascom

Sonia Mazario

Wednesday,
April 2, 2008
8:30 p.m.

501 Cathedral of Learning

Poetry Reading

Andrew Zawacki

Past Readings include:

Tomaz Salamun, Poet
and Richard Jackson, Poet

Tomaz Salamun has publilshed thirty collections of poetry in his home country of Slovenia and is recognized as one of the leading poets in Central Europe. He also has several works in English. His honors include the Preseren Fund Prize, the Jenko Prize, a Pushcart Prize, a visiting Fulbright to Columbia University, and a fellowship to the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.

Richard Jackson is the author of seven books of poems, including Heartwall, winner of the 2000 Juniper Prize. He is also the author of two books of criticism including Dismantling Time in Contemporary Poetry.

David Berman, Poet, Songwriter
Works include: Actual Air published in 1999. He is also an acclaimed songwriter as well as a poet. His band, The Silver Jews, has released four albums.

Anne Carson, Poet
Works include: The Beauty of the Husband, Autobiography of Red, Plainwater,
Men in the Off Hours,
Eros the Bittersweet

Natasha Tretheway, Poet
Works include: Domestic Work, Bellocq's Ophelia

Charles Baxter, Novelist
Works include: Saul and Patsy, The Feast of Love, Believers, Burning Down the House, Shadow Play

Drue Heinz Literature Prize Reading

Judge: Stewart O'Nan; Author
Works include: A Prayer for the Dying, The Speed Queen, The Good Wife, Snow Angels

Winner: David Harris Ebenbach, Author
Works include: Between Camelots

Michael Ondaatje, Author
The 2005 William Block Sr. Writer Works include: The English Patient, Anil's Ghost, Coming through Slaughter, The Cinnamon Peeler, Running in the Family