Words to Say It & Poet Jonathan Fink

Already this semester, the Words to Say It Visiting Writers Series has featured the award-winning Michael Martone and Sonya Huber. This Thursday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m., the series continues with a poetry reading by Jonathan Fink.

Author Jonathan Fink

Jason Ockert, Coastal's ten-year fiction faculty member, is eager for the reading. "Jon's poems are both accessible and intellectually engaging," he claims. For further proof, he pointed to Fink's numerous scholarships, fellowships, awards, and publications as well as praise from renowned writers like Thomas Lux, Mary Karr, and Brooks Haxton. Even Natasha Trethewey is a fan, calling Fink's work "an exploration of our common humanity."

There's more to a reading than prestigious poetry, though. "The spoken word matters," explains Ockert. "People may be surprised how moving a public reading can be. When an author reads his or her work, it often comes alive in unique and meaningful ways."

As always, the reading includes a reception afterward, giving attendees a chance to enjoy delicious cheeses, chat with others from the community, and purchase some of the author's work. You'll also have a chance to congratulate Fink on the coming release of his second poetry collection, Barbarossa: The German Invasion of the Soviet Union and the Siege of Leningrad.

If you're still undecided, feel free to read some samples, browse the library's database Literary Reference Center Plus for similar poetry from Lux, Karr, Haxton, or Trethewey or borrow a collection from our catalog.

The Words to Say It series brings several critically acclaimed authors to campus each year. These authors are selected both for their literary skill and their commitment to the socially transformative imagination. This event is held in the Johnson Auditorium in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. The Wall College is located at 119 Chanticleer Drive E. on the Conway campus. For more information, contact Jason Ockert, coordinator of creative writing, at 843-349-2531, or email jockert@coastal.edu.