Writers Speak Spring 2017 Series Offers Diverse Slate Of Authors

“Diversity, diversity, diversity.” That’s how Julie Sheehan, the director of the MFA in Creative Writing and Literature program at Stony Brook Southampton, described this season’s Writers Speak Wednesdays series at the campus in Shinnecock Hills.

Back for another semester, the series will devote a night each to seven writers—novelists, reporters, poets or a combination of the professions—to speak about their recent works for audiences of Stony Brook Southampton students and local community members. Each evening is open to the public, including two additional nights that will be devoted to readings from MFA faculty members and students.

The MFA program invited writers from a broad range of backgrounds and professions to foster conversations on an array of topics, such as HIV/AIDS, dictatorship in Africa, the LGBT community and the writing process.

Kathleen Russo, who has been the program curator for almost three years now, said this semester’s writers were chosen to give a voice to as many underrepresented demographics as possible. She added that the turbulent political climate that resulted from the recent election has made it even more important to emphasize diversity.

“There’s so many voices out there that need to be heard,” Ms. Russo explained. “If we can facilitate that for some people—minorities—that are not being represented out there to the extent that we would like, and they bring something to the table for our students from their perspective, I think it’s a win-win situation.”

Ms. Russo worked with two graduate teaching assistants to pick the writers this semester. They wanted to make the decision process more representative of the student body’s interests, she explained, so they did a survey asking who the students want to see.

“The whole point is that we do this really for our students, but I love when people from the public come,” she said.

The series kicks off with Helen Simonson, an MFA program alumna and New York Times bestselling novelist, who will speak on February 8 about her second and latest novel, “The Summer Before the War.” Her first novel “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand,” which established her as a successful author at the age of 45, was her MFA thesis.

“Writers Speak is a chance to pay it forward, to meet the students who are now in the program,” Ms. Simonson said. “It’s also a chance to go home. Southampton is sort of my writing home, that’s where I learned and honed my craft. So I feel very much a sense of being welcomed home at that program.”

Ms. Russo said, “We’ve been meaning to bring her back and celebrate her graduating from here.”

The series will continue with Jamal Joseph, a Columbia University graduate film program professor and author of the Tupac Shakur biography, “Tupac Legacy,” on February 22, and Omar Bah, who wrote a book on his experience as a refugee from The Gambia, on March 1. The faculty reading is March 8. Tim Murphy appears March 22, Stacey Waite will appear in conversation with Charif Shanahan on March 29, then Judith Miller will speak on April 12 and Julie Shigekuni on April 19. On May 3, the evening will be devoted to readings by degree candidates currently enrolled in the MFA program.

“I think the more community awareness we can raise through our events about what we do here at the program, the more support we’ll get from the community,” Ms. Russo shared.

Writers Speak Wednesdays will take place in the Radio Lounge on the second floor of Chancellors Hall, 239 Montauk Highway, Southampton, on select Wednesdays. Receptions begin at 6:30 p.m. and readings begin at 7 p.m. To view the full spring schedule, visit stonybrook.edu/mfa or facebook.com/WritersSpeakWednesdays or call 631-632-5028.