12/3/2007 - Author Joyce Carol Oates to Speak at UCR

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A diverse group of novelists, poets and playwrights will discuss their craft and read selections from their work during Writers Week 2008 at UC Riverside from Feb. 5 through 8.



Acclaimed writer Joyce Carol Oates – author of numerous novels, short stories, poems, plays and the book-length essay “On Boxing” – will give the Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, in University Lecture Hall. Admission is free and parking is complimentary. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting Evelyn Starr at 951-827-3144 or evelyn.starr@ucr.edu .



Oates has won many awards for her writing, including the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in short fiction, the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy-Institute of Arts and Letters, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the O. Henry Prize for Continued Achievement in the Short Story, the National Book Award for her novel “Them” and membership in the American Academy-Institute.



Among her works are “You Must Remember This,” “Broke Heart Blues,” “Blonde,” “A Garden of Earthly Delights,” “We Were the Mulvaneys,” “Black Water” and the children’s book “Come Meet Muffin!”



More than a dozen distinguished writers, including members of the UCR Department of Creative Writing faculty, will participate in the annual event. It is the longest-running free literary event in California. The only fee is for campus parking. Most events will occur in Humanities and Social Sciences 1500.



A campus map is available online at http://www.campusmap.ucr.edu/campusMap.php



The schedule of events is:



Tuesday, Feb. 5 – Pitt Poetry: American Poetry Now



1:30 p.m.: Paisley Rekdal, associate professor of English at the University of Utah and author of a book of essays, “The Night My Mother Met Bruce Lee,” and three books of poetry, “A Crash of Rhinos,” “Six Girls Without Pants” and “The Invention of the Kaleidoscope.”



3 p.m.: Richard Shelton, Regents Professor of English emeritus at the University of Arizona, poet and author of the nonfiction books “Going Back to Bisbee” and “Crossing the Yard: Thirty Years as a Prison Volunteer.”



4:30 p.m.: Ed Ochester, editor of the Pitt Poetry Series, published by the University of Pittsburgh Press, and author of 14 books, including “Dancing on the Edges of Knives.”



6 p.m.: Panel of poets moderated by poet Christopher Buckley, UCR professor of creative writing. The evening program will be held at the Riverside Public Library, 3581 Mission Inn Ave.



Wednesday, Feb. 6 – History, Biography and Memoir: Amazing True Stories



2:30 p.m.: Gordon Johnson, a Cahuilla/Cupeño from the Pala Indian Reservation in San Diego County and the author of “Fast Cars and Frybread” and “Rez Dogs Eat Beans.”



4 p.m.: Judith Freeman, novelist, essayist, critic, short story writer and author of a Raymond Chandler biography, “The Long Embrace: Raymond Chandler and the Woman He Loved.”



5:15 p.m.: Panel on nonfiction publishing.



7 p.m.: Catherine Allgor, UCR professor of history and author of “A More Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation.”



Thursday, Feb. 7 – Diaspora: Coming to California



2 p.m.: Christopher Abani, UCR professor of creative writing, poet, novelist and the author of “Graceland,” “Virgin of Flames” and “Song for Night.”



3:15 p.m.: Alex Espinoza, a UCR graduate whose first novel, “Still Water Saints,” will be published in February 2008 by Random House.



4:30 p.m.: Marisa Silva, author of “La limpieza es una mentira provisoria.”



6 p.m.: Panel of authors on “Coming to California.”



7 p.m: Noir film screening of “LA Confidential,” chosen by Robin Russin, assistant professor of theatre.



Friday, Feb. 8 – California Noir: Mystery in the Palm and Jacaranda



2 p.m.: David Hernandez, author of the poetry collection “Always Danger” and the forthcoming novel “Suckerpunch.”



3:15 p.m.: Tod Goldberg, journalist, novelist and author of “Living Dead Girl” and “Fake Liar Cheat.”



4:30 p.m.: Los Angeles Noir readings by crime novelist Denise Hamilton, short-story writer and mystery writer Emory Holmes II, biographer and mystery writer Naomi Hirahara and novelist Diana Wagman.



5:30 p.m.: Panel of authors – “What Makes California Noir?”



8 p.m.: Author Joyce Carol Oates, Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecturer, University Lecture Hall.



For more information contact:



Susan Straight, professor of creative writing and director of Writers Week 2008, 951-827-2008 or susan.straight@ucr.edu .



Charles Whitney, chair of the Department of Creative Writing and co-director of Writers Week 2008, 951-827-6076 or charles.whitney@ucr.edu .



Amanda Labagnara, Department of Creative Writing administrative assistant, 951-827-3615 or amanda.labagnara@ucr.edu .