The opportunity to meet and speak with a writer whose work they’ve just read in class can be an exciting experience for a college student.
The Whittier College Writers Series presents students with the chance to do just that.
Led by Professor of English Language and Literature Tony Barnstone, the series invites various authors to campus throughout each semester to read their work and meet with students. Now in its 22nd year, the program has welcomed distinguished writers like Pulitzer Prize winner Yusef Komunyakaa, Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, and New York Times best-selling author writer Amy Tan, among others.
Barnstone says he enjoys inviting writers to campus because meeting them makes literature come to life for the students in his classes.
This semester’s speakers have included poet, editor, and essayist David Gewanter, author of Fort Necessity; bilingual author of four poetry books Mariano Zaro; and poet, editor, and author of literary fiction John Brantingham. During their visit, authors typically meet with classes, give students feedback on their poetry and fiction, and meet with others members of the campus community. Visiting Assistant Professor Joe Donnelly and Visiting Instructor Kate Durbin also participated in the series this semester and read original published pieces.
The writers series is sponsored by Hartley House and Garrett House.
