Visiting Writer Series
The Department of English at Lake Superior State University created the new Visiting Writer Series to bring highly acclaimed literary authors and poets to the campus to raise awareness of LSSUโs expanding Creative Writing Program and bring together the community and college in a shared literary experience.ย Attendees have the opportunity to hear writers read their work, answer questions about their writing process, and sign books. Check back soon for more information about future visiting writers, as we plan and schedule their visits for this and future semesters. These programs are free to students of all majors, as well as community members, and everyone is invited to attend!
Past Visiting Writers
Carolyn Turgeon
Carolyn Turgeon visited campus on April 1-2, 2019 and gave a Fairy Tale Lecture and Q&A, a Master Class on Fiction with the topic “Writing a Vivid World,” and a Reading and Q&A.
Lynn Domina
Poet Lynn Domina visited campus on November 24, 2017 to give a master class on โThe Use and Abuse of the Line in Free Verse Poetry” and a reading, book signing, and reception.
Mardi Jo Link
Michigan Notable Book author Mardi Jo Link visited campus on April 13, 2017 to give a master class on “The Power of Voice in Memoir: More Like Yourself with Every Page” and a reading, book signing, and reception.
Alison Decamp
Alison DeCamp, the Michigan Notable Book Award-Winning author, visited Lake State on November 17, 2016 to give a reading and master class on the subject of writing middle grade novels for children.
Jessica Care Moore
Jessica Care Moore, an internationally renowned poet and spoken-word performance artist, from Detroit, Michigan, visited Lake State on Monday-Tuesday April 4-5 to give a free master class and reading.
Julianna Baggott
Internationally best-selling novelist and poet, Julianna Baggott, the author of more than twenty books, visited Lake State on Thursday, October 1, 2015 to give a free lecture on efficient creativity, master class, and reading.
Jeanine Cummins
National bestselling and highly acclaimed author Jeanine Cummins visited Lake Superior State University on Monday, February 2, 2015, for a master class, reading of her work, and reception. Read more about Jeanine Cummins and her novels and memoir here.
Kim Addonizio
Kim Addonizio, “one of our nation’s most provocative and edgy poets,” who is also a novelist, blues harmonica player, and Guggenheim and NEA fellowship recipient, visited LSSU on Thursday, October 2, 2014 to present a reading and master class. Read more about Addonizio and her work here.
Jim Northrup
Jim Northrup, the award-winning Anishinaabe poet, performer, newspaper columnist, and novelist from the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation in Minnesota, visited Lake Superior State University on Monday, February 3, 2014 to present a reading and master class. Read more about Northrup and his work here.
Neil OโBoyle Connelly
Neil O’Boyle Connelly, the author of two highly-acclaimed young adult novels and two literary novels, whose work Entertainment Weekly has called “both comic and chilling,” visited Lake Superior State University on Friday, October 4, 2013, to present a fiction reading and master class.
Helen Frost
Helen Frost, the award-winning author of seven novels-in-poems, whose writing has been said to โfeel like wisps of thought rising, drifting, and weaving a dance,โ visited Lake Superior State University on Monday, February 11, 2013 to present a poetry reading and master class.
Nikki Finney
Nikky Finney, winner of the 2011 National Book Award for Poetry for Head Off & Split, and known as one of the most eloquent, fearless and necessary poets in America, visited Lake Superior State University on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, to present a reading and master class. Read more here.
Jaimy Gordon
Jaimy Gordon, winner of the 2010 National Book Award, discussed her novel Lord of Misrule at LSSU on Feb 20, 2012. Gordon was inaugural speaker for our new Visiting Writer Series, which brings highly acclaimed literary authors and poets to the campus to raise awareness of LSSU’s expanding creative writing program and to serve as an outreach for the community.
