Delta Blues Symposium XV announces pre-enrollment deadline for writers' workshops

Feb. 18, 2009 -- In conjunction with Delta Blues Symposium XV: Celebrating a Century of Delta Culture, Arkansas State University's English and Philosophy Department welcomes writers Janis Kearney and Dale Smith to the campus of ASU-Jonesboro on Friday-Saturday, April 3-4. Kearney served as America’s first presidential diarist during the Clinton administration, and she is the author of non-fiction works as well as her new novel, “Once Upon a Time There Was a Girl: A Murder at Mobile Bay.” Smith, an acclaimed poet, will read with Kearny on Friday night, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. Both Kearney and Smith will conduct writers’ workshops on Saturday, April 4. The reading and the workshops are free and open to the public.

Kearny is a former publisher of the Arkansas State Press newspaper, and she spent five years as personal diarist to President Clinton. In 2004, she founded Writing Our World Press, and she has recently relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas. She has completed fellowships and guest lectureships at Harvard University, Chicago City Colleges, DePaul University, and Arkansas State University.

Smith is a nationally known poet, who edits "Skanky Possum," a poetry journal based in Austin, Texas. In addition to his work as a poet, writer, critic, and editor, he is a major contributor to the slow poetry movement and has been included in the prestigious “Best American Poet” series.

Both writing workshops take place on Saturday morning, April 4. Janice Kearney will meet with participants from 8:30-10:45 a.m. in the ASU Student Union, Room 1909, 101 North Caraway Road, Jonesboro. Dale Smith will meet with participants from 8:30-10:45 a.m. in the Pine Tree Room of the Student Union.

Workshop participants must pre-enroll by submitting either 10-15 pages of fiction or memoir writing or 3-5 poems. Entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 18. Send name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, along with a copy of one’s manuscript to:

Creative Writing Workshops
c/o Dr. Gregory Hansen
Box 1890
Dept. of English and Philosophy
Arkansas State University
State University, AR  72467-1890

For more information, contact the Department of English and Philosophy at (870) 972-3043.            

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