Media Contact:
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

There will be a Visiting Writers Series reading on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in The Grove Recital Hall, Music and Art Center (MAC). Writers are Mark Irwin, Susan Rae Sampson, WVC instructor Amy Carlson and some WVC students. This event is sponsored by the Wenatchee Valley College English Department, Icicle Creek Center for the Arts and the WVC Foundation as part of their Community Appreciation Series.

The reading is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Mark Irwin is the author of nine collections of poetry, which include “A Passion According to Green” (2017), “American Urn: Selected Poems” (1987-2014), “Large White House Speaking” (2013), among others. He has also translated Philippe Denis’ Notebook of Shadows and Nichita Stanescu’s “Ask the Circle to Forgive You: Selected Poems.” His collection of essays, “Monster: Distortion, Abstraction, and Originality in Contemporary American Poetry,” was published in 2017. His poetry and essays have appeared in many literary magazines including The American Poetry Review, Harper’s, The Kenyon Review, The New York Times, and others. Recognition for his work includes The Nation/Discovery Award, four Pushcart Prizes, two Colorado Book Awards, the James Wright Poetry Award and multiple fellowships. He is a professor in the doctorate in creative writing and literature program at the University of Southern California and lives in Los Angeles and Colorado.

Susan Rae Sampson is the author of “Book of Birds,” winner of the first chapbook contest conducted by the Wild Leek Press. Her poetry has been published in the Shark Reef and Floating Bridge literary journals. Her essays involving history, law, and the natural world have been published in Awake in the World, the Montana anthology and in the Archipelago Journal. Her essays regarding life in the Wenatchee Valley have been published in the Wenatchee World and the Wenatchee Good Life magazines. She took up writing following retirement from a thirty-five year career as a trial lawyer. She has a daily argument with her husband, a retired aerospace engineer, over politics.

Carlson grew up with Asia in her head and chopsticks in her hands. Thanks to her papa who loved his Chinese cooking classes and his study of Japanese architecture, she has roamed the world and lived in Japan. This traveler always returns to the east slopes of the Cascades in Washington state where she teaches English at Wenatchee Valley College. In the summer, she transforms into “Dr. Fu,” as she directs and teaches Avra Kedavra Kamp, a kids' literary arts camp for young language loonies. In her “spare” time, she has written/published essays, has edited several travel anthologies for Travelers’ Tales, and recently published a middle grade fantasy novel entitled “Brother Beast.” She lives with her husband and rabbit, both very cute.

The Community Appreciation Series was created by the WVC Foundation to offer culturally enriching programs to supportive alumni, donors and friends.

Parking for the event is free in the MAC, Wells Hall, Wells House and Fifth Street visitor parking lots.

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The WVC Foundation was incorporated in 1971. It exists to build relationships between the community and the college and raise financial support for Wenatchee Valley College students, programs, faculty and staff, as well as special projects such as building campaigns like the Music and Art Center. For information on how to make a gift to the foundation, establish a scholarship or include the WVC Foundation in your estate plans, contact (509) 682-6410. Visit the WVC Foundation website at http://www.wvc.edu/foundation.