'Future of literature' presented through Richmond's Writers Series

Two renowned authors will be featured as part of University of Richmond’s Writers Series this fall. 

Roxane Gay will visit on Sept. 21 and speak at 7 p.m. in the Alice Haynes Room in Tyler Haynes Commons. Gay is an author and cultural critic who has garnered international acclaim for her social critique and exploration of feminism.

NPR named her collection of essays, “Bad Feminist,” one of the best books of the year, and Salon declared the book “trailblazing.” She is a contributing op-ed writer for The New York Times and an associate professor of English at Purdue University.

The event is part of the WILL*/WGSS Speaker Series.

Poet Danez Smith will speak in the International Center Commons at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3. Smith is the author of “[insert] boy,” winner of the 2014 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry. Smith’s second collection, “Don't Call Us Dead,” will be published by Graywolf Press in 2017. Smith also is the author of two chapbooks, “hands on ya knees” and “black movie.” Smith’s work has been published in Poetry Magazine, Beloit Poetry Journal, Buzzfeed, Blavity and Ploughshares.

“This year’s Writers Series gives us the opportunity to see the future of literature now,” said Brian Henry, professor of English and creative writing. “We’re fortunate to have such a vibrant group of writers visiting the University this year.”

The Writers Series is presented by the Department of English. More information is available at www.english.richmond.edu/writers-series. The events are free and open to the public.

# # #