Maslow Foundation Salon Reading Series at Wilkes University Highlights Maslow Family Creative Writing Program from Jan. 5-9, 2020

by Vicki Mayk

Wilkes-Barre, PA (12/12/2019) — Wilkes University's Maslow Foundation Salon Reading Series, which highlights the January 2020 residency for the University's Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing, features alumni, guests and program faculty, many of whom are prize-winning authors, as guest readers. Readings are held nightly from Jan. 5-9, 2020.

The series kicks off on Monday at the Barnes & Noble on Public Square, 7 S. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre. Readings on Monday through Thursday nights will take place at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University, 239 S. River St, Wilkes-Barre. A book fair, sponsored by Barnes & Noble, features books for purchase by the authors. All readings are free and open to the public.

The full schedule for the week follows:

SUNDAY, Jan. 5 - 7 to 9 p.m., Barnes & Noble, Public Square, 7 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre

This night will feature fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry readings by program faculty and alumni. Readers include Laurie Loewenstein, Bill Schneider, Rashidah Ismaili Abubakr, Taylor Polities, Donna Talarico, Christine Gelineau, Robert Mooney and Mike Lennon.

The following readings will take place at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center.

MONDAY, Jan. 6 - 7 to 9 p.m. Bookfair begins.

Movie night will feature a screening of the film "Middle School," followed by a question-and-answer session with its producer and creative writing program faculty member Susan Cartsonis.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7 - 7 to 9 p.m.

Readings of fiction and nonfiction work will be presented. Readers will include Kevin Oderman, David Poyer, Lenore Hart, Jeff Talarigo, Kaylie Jones, Beverly Donofrio, Jacquelyn Mitchard, and Phil Brady

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8 - 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday evening will be playwrights night featuring a reading of creative writing faculty member Jean Klein's play "Generous Rivals."

THURSDAY, Jan. 9 - 7 to 9 p.m.

The final evening will feature special readings by program alumni, faculty and special guests. Readers include creative writing faculty member Nancy McKinley, whose book "St. Christopher on Pluto," a collection of connected stories set in northeastern Pennsylvania, was released in December by West Virginia University Press. Other readers are guest authors Susan Mailer, whose memoir "In Another Place: With and Without My Father, Norman Mailer," was published in fall 2019 by Northampton House Press, Sheryl St. Germain, whose memoir in essays, "50 Miles," will be published in 2020 by Etruscan Press, and poet Tim Seibles, whose collection "Fast Animal" - also published by Etruscan Press -- was a National Book Award finalist. Seibles is an advisory board member for the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Rounding out the readers will be creative writing program alumna Suzanne Ohlmann, who will read selections from her novel. A book signing and reception will follow Thursday's readings.

For more stories about Wilkes University and its students, faculty and staff, please visit News@Wilkes.

About the Wilkes University Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing

Wilkes University's Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers the master of arts and master of fine art degrees in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, publishing and documentary film. Program faculty are working, producing writers who mentor students one-on-one through the process of creating a full-length creative project. The Graduate Creative Writing program is offered in two formats. In the

low-residency format, students learn online and attend two eight-day residencies each January and June. For the weekender program, students will learn online and attend four face-to-face weekend class sessions each term. For more information, please visit www.wilkes.edu/creativewriting or call 570-408-4527.