Kestrel Celebrates New Issue and FSU Sesquicentennial

Kestrel: A Journal of Literature & Art is launching its 34th issue, a double issue that commemorates Fairmont State University’s Sesquicentennial. Aptly titled “Transformations & Teachable Moments,” this issue contains poetry, short fiction, essays, visual art and book reviews revolving around a central theme of history and important dates, public and personal, and their enlightening consequences, which are often surprising.

In honor of this special Sesquicentennial issue, Kestrel will be hosting events on Oct. 9 and 10. The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, in Room 304 of Jaynes Hall with a panel discussion among visiting contributors on the issue’s topics followed by a question and answer session with students and community members.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m., contributors will read from their work at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center. The evening will feature a mix of poetry and fiction writers: Kathleen Furbee, Richard Hedderman, Daniel McTaggart, Nancy Takacs, Charles Tisdale and FSU alumnus William Kelley Woolfitt.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., readings will continue in downtown Fairmont at the Joe N’ Throw, 323 ½ Adams St. William Brown, Rick Campbell, Bill King, James Owens, Ellen McGrath Smith and Kestrel co-founder Valerie Neiman will each read their work.

Several of the visiting writers also will be available on Friday and Saturday for individual manuscript consultations with students or community members. For more information about manuscript consultations, including available student scholarships, contact Donna.Long@fairmontstate.edu.

College of Liberal ArtsLanguage & LiteratureDonna LongKestrel