The Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and Mississippi University for Women join forces Sept. 25 to preview MUW’s upcoming Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium. The theme of this year’s event, “‘Alive as Ever, on the Brink of Oblivion’: Southern Writers in the Eye of the Storm,” is inspired by Eudora Welty’s novel “Losing Battles.”
Dr. Kendall Dunkelberg, who has overseen the Welty Symposium since 2008, is well-placed to discuss the event which presents the varied works of the visiting authors. He has directed poetry and fiction workshops at MUW since 1994 and is the director of creative writing at MUW. A published poet since 1988 and a translator of both poetry and fiction, he was honored in 2003 as the MUW Humanities faculty member of the year.
“We are thrilled to host the symposium for the 25th time this year, bringing one of the South’s greatest living women writers, Ellen Gilchrist, as our keynote reader,” said Dunkelberg. “During this three-day gathering, we will chase storms of every kind imaginable: from post-apocalyptic tempests, to characters’ battles with identity and destiny, and to the inner struggle of the writer to set the right words on the page,” he concluded.
“This year’s line-up brings a fascinating group of writers,” said Friends member Jo Shumake, “and we’re delighted to have Dr. Dunkelberg as our Table Talk speaker to guide us through their diverse works. It’s always a treat to learn about the writers before they arrive at MUW for the Symposium.”
The Oct. 24-26 program at MUW features novelists, poets and short fiction writers who hail not only from Mississippi and neighboring Alabama, but also from Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, Georgia and Arkansas as well.
The Table Talk session will be held in the second floor meeting room at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 Seventh St. N. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for those wishing to bring their lunch and socialize before the program begins at noon. The Friends will serve iced tea.
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