CONTACT:
Ryan G. Van Cleave
Dept. of English
Clemson University
(864) 650-1677
rcleave@clemson.edu

WRITERS HARVEST NATIONAL READING ENLISTS UPSTATE CREATIVE WRITERS

CLEMSON, Nov. 1, 2006—Six of upstate South Carolina’s published writers will read from their works as part of Writers Harvest: The National Reading on Monday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the McKissick Auditorium at Clemson University’s Hendrix Student Center.

William Aarnes, Gilbert Allen, Skip Eisiminger, Keith Morris, Michele Santamaria, and John Warner will share their works as part of the event that raises money for Share Our Strength (SOS), which works to help alleviate and prevent hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.

These creative people give their time to support SOS because one in 12 American children under 12 and more than 20 million Americans suffer from hunger, more than 38 million Americans live in poverty, and malnutrition in early years can physically and mentally impair a child for life.

Ryan G. Van Cleave, the local reading organizer, said, “People might not realize it, but hunger is a problem right here in upstate South Carolina. Thanks to the participation of authors such as those at Clemson and Furman Universities, Writer's Harvest brings attention to the hunger problem and helps raise vital funds for groups fighting hunger in our area."

Each fall, more than 2,000 writers gather in more than 500 bookstores and other centers across the country to support the goals of SOS. SOS distributes 100 percent of event donations to statewide anti-hunger and anti-poverty efforts.

Since 1984, SOS has distributed more than $45 million in grants to more than 1,000 anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations worldwide. Writers Harvest has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Admission is free, but there is a requested donation at the door of a single canned or dry good that will be donated directly to local food pantries. Monetary donations will also be accepted before and during the event.

An added attraction for this year's local event will be a silent auction from 7-7:30 p.m. featuring signed books from many of the readers, plus coupons and gift certificates from local merchants.

William Aarnes is the author of two books of poetry: Learning to Dance and Predicaments. He has published poetry in The American Scholar, Field, The South Carolina Review, The Southern Review, and Poetry. He lives in Clemson and teaches writing at Furman University.

Gilbert Allen is the author of four books of poetry, including Driving to Distraction and Second Chances. His poetry has appeared in The American Scholar, The Cortland Review, The Georgia Review, and Shenandoah. He teaches writing at Furman University and recently received a South Carolina Literary Arts Fellowship.

Skip Eisiminger, the author of three books, has published poetry in The Debut Review, The Little Brown Review, The Lullwater Review, and Pegasus Review. He received his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina where he studied with James Dickey. He teaches writing and literature at Clemson University.

Keith Morris is the author of the novel The Greyhound God and the short story collection The Best Seats in the House, both published by The University of Nevada Press. His stories have appeared in The Georgia Review, New England Review, The Cincinnati Review, and The Sun. He teaches creative writing at Clemson University and was recently awarded the Eudora Welty Prize for Fiction from The Southern Review.

Michele Santamaria’s writing has appeared in The Lullwater Review and Moebius. She earned her M.F.A. at the University of Oregon and teaches writing at Clemson University. She is working on a trilingual series entitled “Simultaneous Translation.”

John Warner, the author of three books, is an editor for mcsweeneys.net. His writing has appeared in McSweeney’s, Night Train, Swink, and Zoetrope. Warner earned his M.F.A. at McNeese State University and teaches writing at Clemson University.

For further information about the event, call Ryan G. Van Cleave at 864-650-1677 or email him at rcleave@clemson.edu.

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