Whittier College News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Whittier College
Office of Public Relations
Phone: 562.907.4912 or 562.907.4277

SECOND ANNUAL WRITERS FESTIVAL COMES TO CAMPUS

WHITTIER, CA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2006) - Maxine Hong Kingston, Gerald Stern, Frank X. Gaspar, and Christopher Buckley will be among the scribes showcased at the Second Annual Whittier College Writers Festival October 2-4.

Readings from memoirs, poems, and novels will be followed by question and answer sessions with the writers. All events take place in the Founders Room at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave. at the college. $6. $10 for a two-day pass. $15 for a three-day pass. (562) 907-4203 or www.shannoncenter.org.

Schedule:

Monday, Oct. 2

Christopher Buckley, author of No Way to Treat a First Lady and Thank You for Smoking, and Emily Rapp, author of the forthcoming memoir, Poster Child, will read from 5 to 6 p.m.

Maxine Hong Kingston, author of The Woman Warrior and editor of Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace, will give a talk from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Award-winning poets Stuart Dischell and Frank Gaspar will read from 5 to 6 p.m.

Poet Gerald Stern, author of Everything is Burning: Poems reads from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 4

Poets Maurya Simon and Mike the Poet will read from 5 to 6 p.m.

Musician Oni Buchanan will read poetry and perform works on the piano from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The event is organized by Tony Barnstone, associate professor of English language and literature. He is the faculty master at Garrett House where he oversees the Creative Writing Series. The series gives authors and readers the opportunity to discuss literature and writing in an intimate setting.

Barnstone has published numerous books including Impure and Sad Jazz: Sonnets. His latest book, Chinese Erotic Poetry, is expected to be published in 2007. He has also co-edited surveys and anthologies on Asian and Middle Eastern literature and has translated numerous poems from Chinese to English. Over the years, Barnstone has earned many accolades: the Paumarok Poetry Award, the Pablo Neruda Prize in Poetry and most recently a Pushcart Prize for poetry. This is his first NEA fellowship.

Founded by Quakers in 1887, Whittier College is an independent, four-year college offering a traditional liberal arts program integrated with both professional and pre-professional courses of study. With an emphasis on diversity, community, and curricular innovation, the College’s primary mission is to endow students with the education, skills, and values appropriate for global leadership and service. Whittier College is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Whittier Law School, which is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools, is located on a separate campus in Orange County.