Each year the University of Tampa’s MFA creative writing program Lectores brings in high-profile poets and authors (and occasionally some actors and musicians) from across the nation for its semi-annual weeklong event series.
Held at the beginning of the winter and summer terms, the name derives from the readers who informed and entertained cigar workers in early 20th century Ybor City.
This summer’s installment kicks off with short (really short) fiction maven Lydia Davis and includes Shane Hinton, Jeff Parker, MFA faculty member Jason Ockert and non-fiction writer S.L. Wisenberg. Organized by new department chair, Erica Dawson, CL’s Dark and Sinful columnist, expect an irreverent, risk-taking sensibility instead of what could be an overly staid, academic affair — but, thankfully, never is.
"UT's MFA offers students the amazing opportunity to study closely, even when they live in other countries, with world-renowned award-writers. And they get to come to our gorgeous campus twice a year? I wouldn't turn that down," the new writer-in-charge said by email recently.
What does Dawson have planned during her turn at the Lectores reign?
"I want to continue the amazing success we've achieved in such a short time," she said. "Now, with the help of our faculty, it's my chance to invite artists of all kinds to come to campus, the chance to build an even stronger creative community for UT, for Tampa, and even Florida."
Check our listings for dates and authors. June 18-25 at various venues on and nearby the University of Tampa campus, ut.edu/MFA-Program-Presents-Lectores.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2015.