PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES, 2014
--July 13-16 2014, Boston, MA, Solstice/ Pine Manor MFA residency-- reading, individual conferences, and craft talk, "One Story"Two Voices: The Reflective Narrator in Personal Essays and Memoir Solstice MFA
March 10, 2014, Craft talk, Composition Faculty, Santa Barbara CA, City College, Santa Barbara, CA
February 26-March 2, 2014, AWP Convention, Seattle, WA. Two panels: "The Eye or the 'I'" and "Planning For Surprise."
2013 UPCOMING APPEARANCES AND EVENTS
I'll be doing a reading, craft talk, and some manuscript consultations at the Sanibel Island Writers Conference (November 8-11). For those who are looking for a good conference to attend, this one is great fun and it's in a wonderful location. There will be talks, workshops, readings and manuscript consultations in all the literary genres. Two of the presenters in creative nonfiction, Steve Almond and Kristine Iverson, are very fine writers and teachers. The link is http://www.fgcu.edu/siwc.
You might be interested in my essay, "Did It Really Happen That Way?: The Memoirist As Unreliable Narrator, " adapted from a talk I gave at AWP in March, appears in the current issue of TriQuarterly. It's one of five pieces, all of which were adapted from the AWP panel "Looking for Real-Life Humberts: The Unreliable Narrator in Creative Nonfiction" (Michael Steinberg, Daniel Stolar, Elizabeth Kadetsky, Tom Larson, Mimi Schwartz). You can read my piece by cliquing on Triquarterly . For all five pieces go to Triquarterly views They're on the right side under "Views."
May 17-19, 2013 River Teeth Conference Ashland, Ohio Panel: Structure in Memoir (tentative title) Riverteeth
June 30-July 3, 2013, Solstice/ Pine Manor MFA residency, reading and craft talk Solstice MFA
November 7-10, 2013, Sanibel Island Writer's Conference, craft talk and manuscript workshop Sanibel
SELECTED APPEARANCES 2013-2011
March 6, 2013, Associated Writing Program AWP, Boston, MA Panel: Looking for Real-life Humberts: The Unreliable Narrator in Creative Nonfiction
awpwriter
Jan 6, 2013, University of Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learing, Honor's College craft talk, One Narrative, Two Voices: The Role of Reflection in Personal Essays and Memoir
Jan 4, 2013, Carlow University, MFA Program, Pittsburgh craft talk Imagination, Fact, Memory, Research: Memoir’s Hybrid Personality
July 12, 2012, Stonecoast/University of Southern Maine MFA residency, class visit q and a.
July 8 - 10, 2012, Solstice/Pine Manor College MFA residency, public reading,
and workshop on/about creating three dimensional narrators in memoirs
and personal essays.
February, 2012, AWP (Associated Writing Programs) National Convention, Chicago.
Panel Presentation: "The Persona in Personal Narrative: Crafting the Made-Up Self"
July 31-August 6, 2011, Ashland University, MFA Residency, Ashland, Ohio, reading and manuscript conferences.
July 10-13, 2011, Solstice/Pine Manor MFA Residency, Boston, workshop on the narrator as persona in literary nonfiction, reading, and individual conferences.
February 5, 2011. AWP, Washington, DC Panel Presentation: The Unfolding Story: Narrative Possibilities in Creative Nonfiction AWP.
2010
Nonfiction Now Conference, University of Iowa, November 4-6, 2010. Two panels. Beyond the I: memoir as cultural criticism and The person within myself: constructing the narrative persona in creative nonfiction.
Nonfiction Now.
Vermont Studio Center, Writer-in-Residence, October 26- 31, 2010. Public reading, and craft talk, and individual conferences. Vermont Studio Center.
Johnson State College, Johnson, VT. Craft Talk. "Memory, Fact, Imagination, Research: Memoir's Hybrid Character," October 27, 2010.
Chautauqua Writer's Center, Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop, July 17-24, 2010. Memoir workshop, reading, and craft talk. Chautauqua.
Solistice MFA Residency, Pine Manor College, July 13-16, 2010. Craft talk on reading like a writer, a reading, and individual conferences with students.
In Praise of the Essay , April 24, 2010, Fordham University, New York City. A talk on reading like a writer and participation on an editor's panel. In Praise of the Essay
Brevity Blog
Associated Writing Programs (AWP) National Convention, Denver, CO. April 7 -11. Two panels. Place in creative nonfiction and research in memoir.
Midland Library, Workshop on persona and voice in memoir, Midland, MI, March 23, 2010. Midland Library
2009
Stonecoast/University of Southern Maine, MFA Residency, Visiting Writer. Craft talk on memory, imagination and research in memoir; reading, and visits to creative nonfiction workshop.
AWP Conference,Chicago. two panels, one on reading like a writer and the other a retrospective on Fourth Genre's ten year contribution to creative nonfiction.
Portage District Library, Memoir workshop, Portage, Michigan
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, Visiting Writer. Reading, class visits, and craft talk.
Boise State University, Boise, ID. Class visit. Q and A.
Solistice MFA Summer Residency. Reading, craft talk on persona and voice, and individual conferences.
2008
AWP, New York City. Two panels, voice/persona in memoir, and creative nonfiction meets composition.
Kachemak Bay Writer’s Conference, Homer, Alaska. Reading, two memoir workshops, craft talk, editor’s panel, individual conferences.
Solistice MFA Summer Residency. Reading, craft talk, and individual conferences.
Florida Gulf Coast Writer's Conference, Sanibel Island, Florida. Reading, editor’s panel, two memoir workshops, and individual conferences.
Central Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City, OK. Public talk on composition and creative nonfiction, and class visits.
2007
Solstice MFA Residency, Chestnut Hil, MA. Reading, craft talk, and individual conferences.
Nonfiction Now, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Two panels, creative nonfiction and composition, and editing a literary journal.
Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, MI. Reading.
New York University Summer Writing Intensive, Distinguished Visiting Writer. Workshop, reading, craft talk, and individual conferences.
Prague Summer Writing Program, Prague, Czech Republic. Workshop, reading, and individual conferences.
Winter Wheat Writer’s Conference, Bowling Green University, Bowling Green, OH. Reading and craft talk on memoir.
2005-2006
Geneva Writer’s Conference, Geneva, Switzerland
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. Keynote Address.
DePaul University, Chicago
Columbia College, Chicago
Writers in Paradise, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
Northwestern University Writers Conference Chicago, IL.
Vermont College Postgraduate Summer Conference, Montpeiler, VT
California State University Summer Arts Festival: Fresno State University, Fresno, CA
SUNY Binghamton, Writing By Degrees Conference
Nonfiction NOW, University of Iowa.
AWP Conference, Austin, Texas
AWP Conference, Vancouver, Canada
Alma College, Alma, MI
Ludington Writer’s Series, Ludington, MI
University of Michigan/Flint, Flint, MI
2003-2004
Paris Writer’s Conference, Paris, France
Roanoke College, Roanoke, Virginia,
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Trinity Preparatory School, Orlando Florida
St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY
SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY
SUNY Binghampton, NY
University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio
College of Du Page, Du Page, IL
Columbia College, Chicago, IL
Bancroft School, Worcester, MA,
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Emerson College, Boston, MA
Stonecoast Writer’s Conference, Brunswick/Freeport, Maine
Writing Your Self Conference, Santa Fe, NM
Vermont College Postgraduate Summer Conference, Montpeiler, VT
Vermont College MFA Program, Montpeiler, VT
Baseball and Literature Conference: Indiana State Univesity, Terre Haute, IN
Cape May Writer's Conference, Cape May, NJ
Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI, Contemporary Writers’ Series,
Gwen Frostic Reading Series:Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, MI
Delta College, University Center, MI
Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
Monroe Community College, Monroe, MI
Women’s Literary Society of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI
Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn MI
Ludington Writer’s Series, Ludington, MI
Cranbrook Writer’s Conference, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Big Ten Ten Alumni Magazine Editor's Conference: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
SELECTED BOOKSTORE READINGS
2008
Homer Bookstore, Homer, Alaska
2005-2007
Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Chicago, IL
Schuler Books, East Lansing, Okemos, Grand Rapids, MI
2003-2004
W H Smith Bookstore, Paris, France
Newtonville Books, Newtonville, MA
Barnes and Noble Bookstores, Rochester, MI
Borders Bookstore, Traverse City, MI
Shaman Drum Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI
Schuler Books, East Lansing, Okemos, Grand Rapids, MI
Horizon Books, Traverse City, MI
SELECTED LIBRARY READINGS, TALKS, AND WORKSHOPS
2009
Portage District Library, Portage, MI
2005-2006
Michigan Writer’s Series: Michigan State University Library, East Lansing, MI
Traverse City District Library, Traverse City, MI
Leelanau County Library, Northport, MI
2003-2004
Portage District Library, Portage, MI
Big Rapids Library, Big Rapids, MI
Michigan, State University Library, Michigan Writer’s Series, East Lansing, MI.
Big Rapids Library, Big Rapids, MI
Leelanau County Library, Northport, MI
West Branch Library, West Branch, MI
CONTESTS AND BOOK PRIZES JUDGED 2010
Nonfiction Judge for the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Book Awards, Spring 2010.
Pen Winship Book Prize.
Winner: Elyssa East, Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town
Runner Up: Tracy Kidder, Strength in What Remains
Short List:
The Addict, Michael Stein
The Bauhaus Group, Nicholas Fox Weber
Eureka Man, Alan Hirshfield
Special Mention:
In Her Wake, Nancy Rappaport
Fixing My Gaze, Susan R. Berry
Tracing Paradise, Dawn Potter
The Winter Sun, Fanny Howe
Close Calls With Nonsense, Stephen Burt
Judge, Fourth Genre:Explorations in Nonfiction Michael Steinberg Essay Prize. Spring 2010. Formerly Fourth Genre Editor's Prize, renamed in honor of Michael Steinberg's contribution as Founding Editor. Fourth Genre Journal
First Place: “Circling My Father” by Sandell Morse
Finalist: “Genesis” by Andrew Hood
Special Mention:
“The Cockroach and the Essayist” by Lucas Mann
“The Father of Disorder” by Jessica Wilbanks
“Houses Without Cellars” by Benjamin Busch
“Human, Swimming” by Marsha McGregor
“The Shape of Fear” by Sarah Gorham
Honorable Mention:
“Between Shock and Knife” by Felicia Rose Chavez
“Good Idea #3: peanut butter” by Priscilla Kinter
“Ghost Story” by Annie Nilsson
“The Language of Men” by Anthony D’Aries
Judge for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Donald Murray Prize for an essay on teaching or writing, Winter, 2010. Donald Murray Prize.
Winner: Jo Scott Coe, Recovering Teacher
Short List:
Special Mention: Benjamin Busch, Growth Rings
Emily Robateau, A Slip Into The Breaks
Honorable Mention:
David Bartholomae, Everything Was Going Quite Smoothly Until I Stumbled On a Footnote,
Lee Upton, The Bigamists: Writers Crossing Genres
Rob Schnelle, Taking the Pulse of the Essay
OTHER CONTESTS JUDGED
Annie Dillard Creative Nonfiction Award, Bellingham Review, 1999.
National Association of Two Year Colleges Award for Literary Nonfiction, 2002.
Goucher College MFA Program Memoir Award, 2005 and 2008.