Now in its third year, the literary festival expands to a full week
Students at the 2014 Phoenix unveiling, part of the 2014 Subtext literary festival, unwrap the new issue. This year, Subtext has expanded to a full week of events.
This year, the Clark College Columbia Writers Series is expanding its popular Subtext literary festival to offer a full week of writers, readings, and events on the college’s main campus. From May 18 – 22, the college will host internationally celebrated authors, as well as readings by Clark students, faculty, and staff. (See full schedule below.)
“It has always been our goal to create a true festival feeling, with multiple events throughout the week,” said Columbia Writers Series Co-Director and English faculty member Alexis Nelson. “This is the festival’s third year, and we’ve tried to expand it bit by bit each year. Last year we were able to bring Pulitzer Prize-nominated novelist Karen Russell for the main event. This year, we want to build on that excitement with more events, more voices, more diversity. I hope in time that Subtext will be something that our whole community, both within and without the college, looks forward to each year.”
All events are free and open to the public. Directions and maps are available online. Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services (DSS) Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP). The DSS office is located in room 013 in Clark’s Penguin Union Building.
The Columbia Writers Series was launched at Clark College in 1988, bringing local, national and international authors to the college and the region. Information about the Columbia Writers Series is available at www.clark.edu/cc/cws.
Schedule
May 18
10 a.m. – noon, PUB 161: Artists and Authors panel: “The Craft of Comics”
A panel of successful writers for comic books discuss the challenges and joys of their field.
May 19
11 a.m. – noon, PUB 258C: Reading: fiction writer Nam Le
Born in Vietnam and raised in Australia, Nam Le’s first book, The Boat, earned recognition that includes the Pushcart Prize, the Melbourne Prize for Literature, the best debut of 2008 by both New York Magazine and The Australian Book Review, and a New York Times notable book. It has been translated into 14 languages. Le is the fiction editor of the Harvard Review.
May 20
11 a.m. – noon, PUB 258B: Reading: poet Mary Szybist
Mary Szybist is most recently the author of Incarnadine, winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Poetry. She is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rona Jaffe Foundation, and the Witter Bynner Foundation in conjunction with the Library of Congress.
May 21
3 p.m. – 4 p.m., PUB 161: Phoenix release party
Clark College’s national award-winning art and literary journal, Phoenix, will unveil its 2014-2015 edition with readings from student authors and free copies available for guests.
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., PUB161: Talk by writer Karen Karbo and English Department awards ceremony
Karen Karbo is the author of four New York Times Notable Books, including her first novel, Trespassers Welcome Here, as well as her memoir about her father’s last year of life, The Stuff of Life. She is well known for her international best-selling Kick Ass Women series, which examines the lives of iconic 20th century women. In addition, she writes the Minerva Clark mystery series for children.
May 22
Noon – 1 p.m., PUB 258C: “Clark Crossings,” a student and faculty reading.
This year’s theme is “Transport.”
