A virtual who’s who of critically acclaimed authors will read from their works during the 29th Annual Rutgers University–Camden Summer Writers’ Conference, to be held from June 23 to July 2.
As part of the intensive conference program, featuring nationally renowned writers, poets, and editors, a series of free, public readings will be held on select days at 1 p.m. in the Stedman Gallery on the Rutgers–Camden campus.
The conference can be attended for graduate and undergraduate credit, as well as on a non-credit, certificate fee basis. The registration deadline is Tuesday, June 3. For more information or to register, visit mfa.camden.rutgers.edu/writers-conference or contact Lisa Zeidner, conference director, at zeidner@camden.rutgers.edu or 856-225-6490.
Free readings will be offered at Rutgers–Camden at 1 p.m. on the following days:
On Tuesday, June 24, Kathleen Graber, the author of two collections of poetry, Correspondence and The Eternal City, will read with Timothy Schaffert, an author of five novels, including his most recent The Swan Gondola.
On Wednesday, June 25, Rigoberto González, the author of 13 books of poetry and prose, including the poetry volume Unpeopled Eden, will read with Marco Roth, editor and co-founder of n+1 magazine.
On Thursday, June 26, Michael Dickman, the author of two books of poems, The End of the West and Flies, as well as half a book of plays, 50 American Plays, co-written with his twin brother, Matthew, will read with Ru Freeman, author of the novels A Disobedient Girl and On Sal Mal Lane.
On Friday, June 27, Sam Apple, the author of two works of creative nonfiction, American Parent and Schlepping Through the Alps, will read with J.T. Barbarese, an associate professor of English at Rutgers–Camden, who has written five books of poems, including his most recent, Sweet Spot.
On Monday, June 30, Owen King, an author whose novel Double Feature, was recently named an editor’s choice by The New York Times Book Review, will read with Patrick Rosal, an assistant professor of English at Rutgers–Camden, and author of Boneshepherds (named one of the best small-press books of 2011 by the National Book Critics Circle), My American Kundiman, and Uprock Headspin Scramble and Dive.
On Tuesday, July 1, Robin Black, whose debut story collection, If I loved you, I would tell you this, was a finalist for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Prize, and whose new novel, Life Drawings, has just been released, will read with Peter Trachtenberg, whose latest non-fiction work, Another Insane Devotion, was named an editor’s choice by The New York Times Book Review.
On Wednesday, July 2, selected conference participants will read from their works.
Lisa Zeidner, conference director, is the author of five novels, including the recent LOVE BOMB.
Accepting only 15 students per year, the competitive Rutgers–Camden MFA program in creative writing requires 42 credits of coursework and completion of a thesis for this terminal degree concentrating in fiction, poetry, and narrative nonfiction. More information about Rutgers–Camden’s MFA program in creative writing is available at mfa.camden.rutgers.edu.
The Stedman Gallery is located in the Fine Arts Complex on Third Street, between Cooper Street and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, on the Rutgers–Camden campus. For directions to Rutgers–Camden, visit camden.rutgers.edu/resources/getting-to-campus.