LitFest 2018 showcases area writers, offers free workshop
UniversityofDayton’s Department of English will present its LitFest 2018, “Reclaiming Invisible Cities,” on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10.
The event is free and open to the public.
BeforeItellyoumore,I must divulge that I’m honored to be part of the faculty for the event.
Albino Carrillo, an associate professor in creative writingat University of Dayton, is coordinating this year’s event. Albino is himself a poet with publications in many literary journals, including Puerto Del Sol, Blue Mesa Review, CALIBAN, The South Dakota Review, Columbia: A Journal of Art and Literature, Sou’Wester, and World Order. His books include “In the City of Smoking Mirrors” (University of Arizona Press, 2004) and “Ura- nium Days” (Saudade/Argus House Press, 2015).
He took some time out of his schedule to answer a few questions about the LitFest:
How did the LitFest get started?
“LitFest started in 2001. Graduate stude ntsinEnglish wanted to develop a program to enrich the campus with readings, slams and workshops. We have gone through many changes. We’ve been a guerrillaartm ovement, a confer- ence, and a reading series featuring many famous writers such as Quincy Troupe, Marge Piercy, Jimmy Baca, Ai Ogawa, Kwame Dawes and Roxane Gay. Recently, we’ve been focusing on working with our creative writing undergraduates and high school studen tstopopularize literature and readings and slams in Dayton.”
Why does University of Dayton ingeneral Department of English in particular feel it is important to offer LitFest to its students and to the
nity?
“We feel that creative writing needs a showcase, and provides an impetus for others to write andsharetheirwork.Itis important to the creative writing concentration that the English Department offers, and important to the greater Dayton community in terms of bringing the shared experiences of others through the written and spoken word.”
How did you come up with the theme “Reclaiming
ies”and does it relate to this year’s LitFest’s presenters and topics?
“The concept and title of this year’s LitFest was proposed by several students to indicate that we can reclaim the invisible city of Dayton (everyone always focuses on Dayton’s downturn as a Rustbelt city). We are claiming that w e can reclaim the city and its surroundings through theactofs haring literature.”
Here is the detailed schedule
■ March9,7p.m.,in Sears Hall in the Humanities Building —C hristopher DeWeese (Wright State University Associate Professor of Creative Writ- ingandauthorofthree books of poems) and I will give readings from our works.
■ Saturday, March 10, in the Humanities Building — Workshops will be offered at p.m., and again at 2:30 p.m. (wrapping up at 4 p.m.), on specific topics with local writers:
■ Science Fiction with Jerome Stuear t (www. jeromestueart.com)
■ Screen Writing with Chris Burnside
■ Personal Narrative with Meredith Doench (www.meredithdoench. com)
■ Poetry Writing with Christopher DeWeese (www.christopherdeweese.net)
■ Slam Poetry with Lincoln Schreiber
■ Fiction Writing with Sharon Short (www.sharonshort.com)
■ Following a dinner break, ther e will be a Poetry Slam, in the Torch Lounge, 7:30 -10p. m.
■ More details about the schedule may be found at www.facebook. com/LitfestUniversityofDayton/
OTHER LITERARY NEWS
Washington-Centerville Public Library announced the winners of its Erma Bombeck writing competition, which this year drew 657 human interest and humorous essays from 44 states, Washington, D.C., and nine countries. Learn more about the winners and read the winning entries at https:// wclibrary.info/erma/
OTHER UPCOMING LITERARY EVENTS
■ Registration is now open for the Mar ch24 “Dive Into Your Story” Seminar. This one-day seminar (from 9a .m.-4:30 p.m.) is presented by the Antioch Writers’ Workshop at University of Dayton, and will be held at the university. The seminar, led by five local writers — Rebecc a Kuder ,Mar tha Moody, Joanne Smith, Kate Geiselman and Rebecca Morean —will explore all the elements necessar y from start to finish to write a novel, short story, memoir, personal e ssayorna rrative nonfiction book. Details and registration link ar eav ailable at www.antiochwritersworkshop.com/spring2018-seminar
■ Wednesday, March 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oakwood Starbucks, 2424 Far Hills Avenue, Dayton — Word’s Worth Writing Center (www.wordsworthdayton. com) offers “First Wednesday Writing Workout” with author and creative writing instructor Katrina Kittle. These sessions will offer writing prompts, the time to explo re them, a mini-craft lesson, loads of tips, and the opportunity to share impromptu pieces. See the website to register.
■ Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m., Books & Co. at The Greene — Brian Kilmeade will introduce his book, “Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans.”
■ Saturday, March 10, 1 p.m., Books & Co. at The Greene — Local Author Lorie Langdon will introduce her new young adult novel, “Olivia Twist.” Learn more about Lorie at www. lorielangdon.com
Sharon Short (www. sharonshort.com) is a novelist and director of the Antioch Writers' Workshop. Contact Sharon with news about your book club or organization. Email: sharonshort@ sharonshort.com. Twitter: @ SharonGShort