Visiting Writers Series opens Feb. 28

Spring Visiting Writers Series opens Feb. 28 with poet and novelist Alan Michael Parker

Poet and novelist Alan Michael Parker opens the spring Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series Feb. 28 at Appalachian State University.

Parker will present the craft talk “Real Gardens and Fake Trees; or, How to Write the Life Imagined” at 2 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Three Top Mountain Room, located in the newly opened student union addition.

He will read from his work beginning at 7:30 p.m., also in Table Rock Room.

Book sales and signing will follow each event. The presentations are free and open to the public.

Parker is the author of the novels “Cry Uncle,” Whale Man” and “The Committee on Town Happiness,” and seven books of poetry, including “Long Division” and “Elephants and Butterflies.” He is a member of the faculty at Davidson College, where he directs the college’s creative writing program.

Also featured in the spring series are poet Nathalie Anderson on March 28, fiction writer and memoirist Brett Lott on April 4 and novelist and poet Darnell Arnoult on April 18.

The spring Visiting Writers series is supported by the Appalachian State University Foundation, Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English, the University Bookstore, Belk Library and Information Commons and the Appalachian Journal.

Business sponsors are The Gideon Ridge Inn and The Red Onion Restaurant. Community sponsors include John and Marjorie Idol, Paul and Judy Tobin, Alice Naylor, Thomas McLaughlin and The High Country Writers.

The Visiting Writers Series is named in honor of Hughlene Bostian Frank, class of 1968, a former member of Appalachian’s board of trustees and a supporter of the university.

Parking is free on campus after 5 p.m. The College Street parking deck adjacent to Belk Library and Information Commons provides the closest access to the student union.

For more parking information or a map, see http://www.parking.appstate.edu or call the Parking and Traffic Office at (828) 262-2878.

For further information on the spring season, call (828) 262-2871 or see http://visitingwriters.appstate.edu. To receive Appalachian’s “This Week in the Arts” announcements by email, contact arts-events@appstate.edu.