Creative Writing Program at Penn State

The Mary E. Rolling Reading Series presents Seamus McGraw, author of The End of Country, as well as articles in Playboy, Reader's Digest, Penthouse, Radar, Spin, and The Forward. He has received the Freedom of Information Award from the Associated Press Managing Editors, as well as honors from the Casey Foundation and the Society of … Continue reading Seamus McGraw Reading →

Julia Spicher Kasdorf, Penn State professor of English and women's studies, will present "Shale Play" at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Spicher Kasdorf will read poems from her most recent project, "Shale Play," a book-length collection of poems that document the linguistic, emotional and environmental effects of Marcellus Shale fracking in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Marilyn Nelson is a three-time finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the Newbery and Coretta Scott King awards. She is the author or translator of fifteen poetry books for adults and children, five chapbooks, and in 2013 she published a memoir entitled How I Discovered Poetry—a series of 50 poems about growing … Continue reading Marilyn Nelson to give 2014 Emily Dickinson Lecture →

This Friday, 1/23, 7:30 PM: Write Night! at Webster's Bookstore Cafe Join a community of student writers for an evening designed to invigorate your writing life -- burst into spontaneous writing, share your writing with friendly ears, get constructive feedback on your writing, discuss publishing opportunities, and more. This evening will be the first of … Continue reading Write Night! at Webster’s →

Cathleen Miller circled the globe to interview the sources for her latest book, Champion of Choice, which was named one of Booklist’s Top Ten Biographies of 2013. Her previous work includes Desert Flower and a memoir about her life in rural Pennsylvania, The Birdhouse Chronicles. A winner of the Society of American Travel Writers gold … Continue reading Cathleen Miller Reading →

Cameron Conaway, 2014 Emerging Writer-in-Residence at Penn State Altoona, is a poet who has been a mixed martial arts fighter, a poet-in-residence at the University of Arizona’s M.F.A. in creative writing program, and a 2014 United Nations Foundation Social Good Fellow. He wrote the first full-length book of contemporary poetry about malaria’s impact, Malaria, Poems … Continue reading CAMERON CONAWAY, The Art of Poetry: Malaria Poems →

Elizabeth Kadetsky is the author of a story collection, The Poison that Purifies You; a novella, On the Island at the Center of the Center of the World; and a memoir, First There Is a Mountain. Her short stories have been chosen for a Pushcart Prize, Best New American Voices, and two Best American Short Stories notable … Continue reading Elizabeth Kadetsky Reading →

Jen Hirt, assistant professor of creative writing and English composition, Penn State Harrisburg, is a creative writer who specializes in creative nonfiction essays and book-length memoirs, as well as experimental nonfiction and prose poetry. Her first book, the memoir Under Glass: The Girl with a Thousand Christmas Trees, was published in 2010, and won an emerging writer … Continue reading JEN HIRT, The Art of Poetry: Monster Magnificent: Writing the Odd Encounter →

Centre County Reads/CALS Community Read Discussion of Jess Walter’s novel Beautiful Ruins Jess Walter is the author of eight books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Beautiful Ruins. He was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award and won the 2005 Edgar Allan Poe Award. His short fiction has appeared in Best American … Continue reading Discussion of Jess Walter’s novel Beautiful Ruins →

Jess Walter is the author of eight books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Beautiful Ruins. He was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award and won the 2005 Edgar Allan Poe Award. His short fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories, Harper’s, Esquire, McSweeney's and many other publications.