BOONE, N.C. — Rustling alongside the kaleidoscope of fall leaves on Appalachian State University’s campus will be pages authored by the creative writers taking part in Appalachian’s fall 2018 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series.

Renowned writers who will visit Appalachian’s campus as part of the series include playwright Moisés Kaufman, who is Appalachian’s 2018 Common Reading Program author; novelist, poet and biographer Robert Morgan; travel and ecology writer Peter Fish, who is the Rachel Rivers-Coffey Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at Appalachian; and poet Toi Derricotte.

"We are absolutely thrilled to bring so many wonderful writers to campus, writers who are not just nationally and internationally known, but relevant to our students, our faculty and staff, and to our community," said Mark Powell, assistant professor in Appalachian's Department of English and director of the Visiting Writers Series.

"I hope everyone interested not just in the state of literature but the state of our nation will come to the series events," he said.

Kaufman will read from and sign copies of his play “The Laramie Project,” which he co-authored with members of the Tectonic Theatre Project. He will also give a public address at Appalachian’s Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.

Morgan, Fish and Derricotte will each read from and discuss their work, as well as lead talks on the craft of writing. Craft talks provide aspiring writers suggestions for refining their techniques, developing sounder work habits and gaining a greater appreciation of the writing process.

Admission to all events is free and open to the public. Book sales and signings will follow the talks and the readings.

Parking is free on Appalachian’s campus after 5 p.m. Convenient parking for series attendees is located in the College Street Parking Deck next to Belk Library and Information Commons (from King Street, turn down College Street at the First Baptist Church). To reach the Plemmons Student Union, cross College Street and follow the walkway between the chiller plant and the University Bookstore, passing the Post Office and entering the union on the second floor. For further parking information or a map, visit https://parking.appstate.edu.

Fall 2018 schedule

Sep

17

CANCELED: Reading and book signing with ‘The Laramie Project’ author Moisés Kaufman

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Sep. 17, 2018

2 p.m.

420 Plemmons Student Union (Parkway Ballroom)

Due to expected adverse weather conditions associated with Hurricane Florence, this event has been canceled. Moisés Kaufman is co-author of the play “The Laramie Project,” which explores the community of Laramie, Wisconsin, following the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.

Learn more

Sep

27

Robert Morgan – Craft Talk: “Poetry and Voice: Interaction of Form and Speech”

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Sep. 27, 2018

3:30 p.m.

201B Plemmons Student Union (Table Rock)

The most frequently featured author in the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, Robert Morgan is the author of fourteen books of poetry. He has also published nine volumes of fiction, including “Gap Creek,” a New York Times bestseller. A sequel to “Gap Creek,” “The Road from Gap Creek,” was published in 2013. A new novel, “Chasing the North Star,” was published in 2016, following a new book of poems, “Dark Energy,” in 2015.

Learn more

Sep

27

Robert Morgan

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Sep. 27, 2018

7:30 p.m.

201B Plemmons Student Union (Table Rock)

The most frequently featured author in the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, Robert Morgan is the author of fourteen books of poetry. He has also published nine volumes of fiction, including “Gap Creek,” a New York Times bestseller. A sequel to “Gap Creek,” “The Road from Gap Creek,” was published in 2013. A new novel, “Chasing the North Star,” was published in 2016, following a new book of poems, “Dark Energy,” in 2015.

Learn more

Oct

4

Peter Fish – Craft Talk: “Questions of Travel: Creating a Sense of Place in Non-Fiction and Fiction”

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Oct. 4, 2018

2 p.m.

201B Plemmons Student Union (Table Rock)

Travel and ecology writer Peter Fish will be the 2018-2019 Rachel Rivers-Coffey Distinguished Professor in Creative Writing. Currently a freelance writer and editor, Peter Fish for more than 30 years wrote and edited for Sunset Magazine, the 120-year-old magazine of the American West, where he focused on travel and environmental coverage.

Learn more

Oct

4

Peter Fish

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Oct. 4, 2018

7:30 p.m.

201B Plemmons Student Union (Table Rock)

Travel and ecology writer Peter Fish will be the 2018-2019 Rachel Rivers-Coffey Distinguished Professor in Creative Writing. Currently a freelance writer and editor, Peter Fish for more than 30 years wrote and edited for Sunset Magazine, the 120-year-old magazine of the American West, where he focused on travel and environmental coverage.

Learn more

Nov

8

Toi Derricotte – Craft Talk: “Write One Poem: Change Your Life”

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Nov. 8, 2018

3:30 p.m.

201B Plemmons Student Union (Table Rock)

Toi Derricotte is well known for her books of poetry and the power behind her writing. Her books of poetry are “The Undertaker’s Daughter” (2011), “Tender” (1997), which won the 1998 Paterson Poetry Prize, “Captivity” (1989), “Natural Birth” (1983), and “The Empress of the Death House” (1978). Derricotte’s “The Black Notebooks” is a literary memoir that won the 1998 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Non-Fiction and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

Learn more

Nov

8

Toi Derricotte

Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

Nov. 8, 2018

7:30 p.m.

201B Plemmons Student Union (Table Rock)

Toi Derricotte is well known for her books of poetry and the power behind her writing. Her books of poetry are “The Undertaker’s Daughter” (2011), “Tender” (1997), which won the 1998 Paterson Poetry Prize, “Captivity” (1989), “Natural Birth” (1983), and “The Empress of the Death House” (1978). Derricotte’s “The Black Notebooks” is a literary memoir that won the 1998 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Non-Fiction and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

Learn more

For additional information about the fall 2018 series, visit https://visitingwriters.appstate.edu or contact Susan Weinberg, the series’ coordinator, at [email protected].

The Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

The Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, named in honor of alumna Hughlene Bostian Frank ’68, brings distinguished and up-and-coming creative writers to the Appalachian State University campus throughout the year to present lectures and discuss their works. Frank is a 2013 Appalachian Alumni Association Outstanding Service award recipient, past member of Appalachian’s Board of Trustees, current board member of the Appalachian State University Foundation Inc. and generous supporter of Appalachian.

The spring 2018 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series is supported by the Appalachian State University Foundation Inc., Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English, the Office of Multicultural Student Development, Appalachian’s University Bookstore, Belk Library and Information Commons and the Appalachian Journal: A Regional Studies Review. Business sponsors are The Gideon Ridge Inn, The Red Onion Restaurant and The New Public House & Hotel. Community sponsors include John and the late Margie Idol, Paul and Judy Tobin, Alice Naylor and Thomas McLaughlin.

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About the Department of English

The Department of English at Appalachian State University is committed to outstanding work in the classroom, the support and mentorship of students, and a dynamic engagement with culture, history, language, theory and literature. The department offers master’s degrees in English and rhetoric and composition, as well as undergraduate degrees in literary studies, film studies, creative writing, professional writing and English education. Learn more at https://english.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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