A literary buffet for inspiration-hungry word nerds, the University of Tampa Lectores series offers renowned writers, a variety of literary explorations and topical discussions on media and authorship in today's information-driven culture. It includes seven events and coincides with the inaugural class of the new MFA in Creative Writing program at UT, a low-residency program that biannually brings writers from around the world to Tampa.
All of the below events are free and begin at 7:30 p.m.:
Publishing in Peril
On, Friday, Jan. 6
Straz Center’s Jaeb Theater
A discussion with Amy Hill Hearth (author of The Delaney Sisters; The New York Times), Carla Jimenez of Inkwood Books and poetry editor Enid Shomer, moderated by Times book editor Colette Bancroft.
Official Opening Reading of the UT MFA in Creative Writing Series
On Saturday, Jan. 7, at the University of Tampa
Head to the Vaughn Center, ninth floor, to attend a reading with Florida transplant Michael Connelly, best-selling author of The Drop and The Lincoln Lawyer, and Amy Hill Hearth.
Jeff Parker and the Creative Loafing Contest Winners
On Sunday, Jan. 8,
Creative Loafing Space, 1911 N. 13th St. (above Spaghetti Warehouse), Tallahassee-born author novelist and short story writer joins the Creative Loafing Contest judges' winner, Rita Cerisi ("Bag Boy") and the readers' pick, Christen Pettit Hailey ("The Curling Iron"). Judges will read, too: Jeff Parker, head of UT's MFA in Creative Writing, and CL columnist Catherine Durkin Robinson.
Erica Dawson, Don Morrill and Peter Meinke
On Monday, Jan. 9, at UT Sykes Chapel
Ohio-based poet Erica Dawson reads along with UT Professor, writer and poet Don Morrill, and CL Contributor and Poet Laureate Peter Meinke.
George Saunders
On Tuesday, Jan. 10, at UT’s Vaughn Center, ninth floor
Saunders will read from his works and discuss them with Creative Loafing Editor David Warner. For more on Saunders, read David Warner's feature on the author here.
Reading: Josip Novakovich, Enid Shomer and Terese Svoboda
Wednesday, Jan. 11
University of Tampa, Sykes Chapel
Croatian American writer Novakovich joins Shomer and Svoboda, author of Bohemian Girl.
Truth/truth: A discussion with Roy Peter Clark
Thursday, Jan. 12
University of Tampa, Vaughn Center, Reeves Theater
Roy Peter Clark, the Poynter Institute instructor, writer and editor who’s appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR and Today chats with Times writer and Pulitzer winner Thomas French and Peter Meinke; moderated by John Capouya (author of Gorgeous George), a joint event of the UT MFA and The Poynter Institute.
