Presenting Jason Howard and James S. A. Corey

By Derek Nikitas, Director, Bluegrass Writers Studio

All right, the time has come to reveal the remaining two author guests we have slated for the Bluegrass Writers Studio Winter Residency 2014. Although, technically, it’s three, since one guest is actually two people. Writers can be weird like that.

But first let’s talk about creative nonfiction writer JASON HOWARD. Mr. Howard is a local guy with national acclaim, and he’s also a long-time friend of EKU’s creative writing programs. A few years ago he entertained and edified a group of students and community members as part of our long-running EKU Summer Writers’ Conference. Now we get to share Mr. Howard all over again.

Jason Howard is an exemplar social activist and cultural historian in his creative work, which ranges from a book about the Kentucky roots of popular music (A Few Honest Words) to Something’s Rising: Appalachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal (co-written with his partner Silas House).  His features, essays and reviews have appeared in such publications as the New York Times, the Nation, Sojourners, Paste, No Depression andThe Louisville Review, and on NPR. He teaches at nearby Berea College.

Mr. Howard will be joining us on January 4^th.

Our final big reveal is also a familiar name to the Bluegrass Writers Studio. Last year, one of the country’s hottest contemporary science fiction writers JAMES S.A. COREY virtually visited one of our creative writing workshops (thanks to our Visiting Assistant Professor, Maureen McHugh). This year, “he” visits us in person. Corey’s epic science fiction series The Expanse is being hailed as the triumphant return of great “space opera,” and already includes four complete volumes and several novellas, starting with Leviathan Wakes.

Many of our students can testify to the addictive nature of these Hugo and Nebula Award nominated books. We predict that Corey’s already considerable popularity will skyrocket when his TV series based on The Expanse hits the airwaves on the SyFy Channel, with Thomas Jane in the lead. Corey himself is the showrunner…

Though, of course, Corey is actually a pen-name for two people, authors Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham, both of whom will be joining us on January 3^rd to kick off the first full day of the residency. Abraham, of course, is one of the most prolific and respected fantasy writers working today, with three other book series (The Long Prince, The Dagger and the Coin, Black Sun’s Daughter) to his name. We’re thrilled to have both of them joining us, in addition to all our other author guests.

So, here again is the full list of the guests who’ll be reading at this year’s Winter Residency. With a roster like this, we’re certain we’re in for one of our most engaging and informative residencies yet!

Bluegrass Writers Studio Winter Residency, January 2^nd-11^th, 2015

Friday, January 2^nd, readings from EKU’s core faculty
Saturday, January 3^rd, science fiction writer James S. A. Corey (Ty Franck, Daniel Abraham)
Sunday, January 4^th, nonfiction writer Jason Howard
Monday, January 5^th, fiction and nonfiction writer Jeff Parker
Tuesday, January 6^th, fiction writer Kristyn Dunnion
Wednesday, January 7^th, fiction writer and poet James Sallis
Thursday, January 8^th fiction writer John Crowley and documentarian Laurie Block
Friday, January 9^th, poet Matt Rasmussen
Saturday, January 10^th, poet J. Allyn Rosser
 

Contact Information

Kristen Thompson
kristen.thompson@eku.edu

Published on October 23, 2014