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September 2, 2004

Lecture Series Kicks off Sept. 15

The Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series at Pitt will launch its seventh season Sept. 15. This year’s series include readings, presentations and discussions by poets, travel writers, an essayist, a short story writer and a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Poets Eve Alexandra, author of “The Drowned Girl” (Kent State University Press, 2003), and Tracy K. Smith, author of “The Body’s Question” (Graywolf Press, 2003), will open the season at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in Room 501 of the Cathedral of Learning.

The free, public events will be held at various campus locations (listed below) and all will take place at 8:30 p.m., except for the roundtable discussion at 3 p.m., Sept. 23, and the travel panel, at 6 p.m. Oct. 13.

* Sept. 15 – Eve Alexandra, poet, author of “The Drowned Girl” and Tracy K. Smith, poet, author of “The Body’s Question.” Evening Reading, 501 Cathedral of Learning

* Sept. 22 – Jen Hofer, Christina Rivera-Garza and Ofelia Perez Sepulveda, A Reading of Contemporary Poetry by Mexican Women. Evening reading, William Pitt Union Kurtzman Room.

* Sept. 23 – Roundtable discussion with Hofer, Rivera-Garza and Sepulveda, 3 p.m., 4D56 Posvar Hall.

* Oct. 13 – Travel writing: A Panel Discussion featuring Tom Haines, The Boston Globe; James O’Reilly, Travelers’ Tales, and Kate Wheeler, The New York Times and Outside, 6 p.m., 501 Cathedral of Learning.

* Oct. 20 – Dionne Brand, poet and novelist, author of “In Another Place, Not Here” (Knopf Canada, 1996); “Land to Light On” (McClelland & Stewart, 1997); “No Language Is Neutral” (Coach House, 1990), and “Thirsty” (McClelland & Stewart, 2002). Evening reading, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Room 125.

* Nov. 3 – Drue Heinz Literature Prize reading: Jane McCafferty, 1992 Drue Heinz winner for “Director of the World and Other Stories” (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1992), and Darrell Spencer, 2004 Drue Heinz winner for “Bring Your Legs With You” (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003). Evening reading, William Pitt Union Ballroom.

* Jan. 19 -Tomaz Salamun, poet, author of “The Shepherd, the Hunter” (Pedernal, 1992); “The Four Questions of Melancholy” (White Pine, 1997), and “Feast” (Harcourt Brace, 2000). Evening reading, 501 Cathedral of Learning.

* Feb. 2 – Eddy L. Harris, essayist, author of “Mississippi Solo: A River Quest” (Owl Books, 1998); “Native Stranger: A Black American’s Journey Into the Heart of Africa” (Simon and Schuster, 1992), and “Still Life in Harlem” (Henry Holt and Company, 1999). Evening reading, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Room 125.

* Mar. 16 – ZZ Packer, short story writer and 2004 William Block Sr. Writer, author of “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” (Riverhead Books, 2003). Evening reading, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Room 125.

* April 7 – W. D. Snodgrass, poet, author of “Heart’s Needle” (Knopf, 1959), which won a Pulitzer Prize; “The Fuehrer Bunker: The Complete Cycle” (BOA Editions, 1995), and “Each in His Season” (BOA Editions, 1993). Evening reading, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Room 125.

The Contemporary Writers Series is co-sponsored by the Wyndham Garden Hotel-University Place, Pitt’s Center for Latin American Studies, the University Center for International Studies, The Book Center and the University of Pittsburgh Press.

Filed under: Feature,Volume 37 Issue 1

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