October 23, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Lee Ann Mortensen
(801) 863-8785
Wanda Coleman, award-winning fiction and poetry author, will visit Utah Valley University for a special guest reading of her most recent works. The event will take place in the new UVU Library Lecture Hall, room 120, Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.
Coleman’s trip to UVU was arranged to give students, faculty and staff the experience of different author reading styles, especially authors of national reputation such as Coleman. While it is not common that authors of such standing visit Utah County, there has been a local push to branch out and get them here.
"Orem isn't often on the map when authors are on book tour, so I'm happy to help bring those who tour through Salt Lake down to Utah Valley," said Lee Ann Mortensen, UVU professor of creative writing. "The community has a great opportunity to hear an author [that is] important, intense and exciting - someone doing something different than what most audiences are used to."
Although Coleman is a former medical secretary, magazine editor, journalist and scriptwriter, she carved her biggest mark with her poetry. She has more than a dozen famous works of literature under her belt, as well as several awards. Coleman’s book of poetry ‘Mercurochrome’ was nominated for the National Book Award. She is also a winner of a day-time Emmy for TV writing.
"Having already established herself as a major, hard-hitting poet for whom there are no sacred cows, here [in her new collection ‘Jazz and Twelve O’Clock Tales,’] she has stories that are gems, that are real," said Ishmael Reed, American poet, essayist and novelist.
Coleman’s visit to UVU is sponsored by the school’s English and Literature Department, the UVU College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Happenings in the Humanities and Westminster College in Salt Lake City.
All readings are free and open to the public. Parking validations are available. For more information contact Lee Ann Mortensen at mortenle@uvu.edu or call 801-863-8785.
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College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
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Written by:
Hanna Hopkinson
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