The series features poetry and fiction readings, agent discussions, and the Robert and Adele Schiff Fiction festival, which will include four authors and the panel discussion ‘Influence and Inspiration.’

“In putting together the upcoming series, we chose to invite writers who are diverse in diverse ways, in terms of identity, aesthetics, geography, life experience,” says Jennifer Habel, coordinator of creative writing.

“We’ve invited writers to campus who will be good company, who will inspire our students, and who have had different paths to publication,” she said. “Most importantly, we’ve invited wildly talented artists whose writing we admire.”

For more than 70 years, UC has hosted writers from across genres to present to the community, inspired writers and interested readers. Past participants have included winners of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes.

“Listening to an author read or discuss their work as part of a live audience is a uniquely meaningful experience,” said Habel. “They might also feel inspired to write their own poetry or prose, or feel a greater sense of permission to do so. People who attend our events will encounter the work of exciting and often incredibly accomplished writers.”

Here’s a rundown of the spring lineup, which kicks off in February. All events will be held in the Langsam Poetry Room, 646 Langsam Library.

Fiction reading, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m.

Talk: "The Writer and the Literary Agent: A Conversation," February 28, 3:30 p.m.

The series resumes in April, beginning with The Robert and Adele Schiff Fiction Festival, featuring Lydi Conklin, Ananda Lima, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, and Adam Ehrlich Sachs. It closes out with a reading from poets Julie Carr and Gillian Conoley. Find out more about the rest of the series here.

Featured image at top: The Department of English in UC's College of Arts and Sciences will host several engaging speakers early next year Photo/LubosHouska/Pixabay.