Creative Writers’ Reading Series offered at Northern Maine Community College

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The public is encouraged to join Northern Maine Community College in celebration of Community College Month and National Poetry Month. For the seventh consecutive year, NMCC is hosting its annual Creative Writers’ Reading Series to be held in the Edmunds Library at noon Wednesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 23.
Students who are in the creative writing class at the college will participate by briefly reading from their own original work, followed by a guest writer.
The guest writer for the day will read a passage from their published work and then answer questions about the work, their experiences as a writer or other areas of interest the audience members may have.
“Maine is fortunate to have a wide range of talented writers,” said Jan Grieco, NMCC instructor and coordinator of the reading series. “I am impressed with the number of professional writers who are willing to share their writing styles and experiences with the public and students attending NMCC.”
The first session on April 16 will feature Bruce Pratt, author of “The Serpents of Blissfull,” which was published by Mountain State Press in 2011. Pratt was nominated in 2008 for a Pushcart Award in fiction, and his poetry collection “Boreal” is available from Antrim House Books. His fiction, poetry, essays and plays have appeared in more than 40 literary magazines and journals in the U.S., Canada, Ireland and Wales, and have won several awards.
In addition to working as an assistant editor with “American Fiction,” Pratt serves on the editorial board of “Hawk and Handsaw.” He is a graduate of the Stonecoast MFA at the University of Southern Maine, and teaches undergraduate creative writing at the University of Maine. Pratt lives with his wife, Janet, in Eddington.
The April 23 reading will feature Houlton native Shonna Milliken Humphrey. Humphrey’s career includes 20 years of professional writing, editing and teaching experience. Her non-fiction has been published in New York Times, Salon and The Atlantic; her first novel, “Show Me Good Land,” was a semi-finalist for the 2012 VCU Cabell Award. For two years, she was the food critic for the Maine Sunday Telegram. Humphrey earned a MFA in writing and literature from Bennington College, and she is the former executive director for the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. She currently lives in Gorham where she teaches at Southern New Hampshire University and directs foundation relations for Thomas College.
After each of the noontime sessions, the featured guest writer will be speaking to students in Grieco’s creative writing class. The writers will critique the students’ work, share with them the process of becoming a professional writer, discuss where they receive their inspiration and answer student questions.
“This is such a terrific opportunity for my students to have their voices heard,” Grieco said. “It’s also a wonderful opportunity for other students at the college and members of the public who love literature to hear original work by both experienced, published writers and talented beginners. It is an exciting combination.”
Everyone is welcome to attend the free sessions.