Writers@Grinnell, the English department’s reading series, brings to campus writers of all kinds: poets, novelists, memoirists, essayists, radio essayists, columnists, graphic memoirists, playwrights, and short story writers. Believing language to be a dynamic and communal medium, we give its crafted versions the attention they deserve, and we take seriously the importance of diverse perspectives. Recent visitors include African-American and Latino writers, international writers, LGBT writers, blind and deaf writers, bi-polar writers, and writers with mobility impairments.  Through the generous support of an anonymous donor, every year we host a distinguished author reading and an interdisciplinary creative writing event. The program is directed by Ralph Savarese, associate professor of English.

2011-2012 Writers@Grinnell Schedule

Spring dates

  • Thursday, February 16, 2012: Reading from Marty Dobrow, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Friday, February 24, 2012: Reading from Kevin Brockmeier, Bucksbaum Gallery, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 5, 2012: Reading from Jennifer Finney Boylan, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 12, 2012: Reading from Mark Doty, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday and Thursday, April 18 & 19, 2012: In Acting Shakespeare, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 26, 2012: Reading from Ralph Savarese and Mike Cavanagh, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 10, 2012: Grinnell Review, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.

Fall dates

  • Thursday, September 8, 2011: Reading from Dean Bakopoulos
  • Tuesday, September 13, 2011: Reading from Nell Regan
  • Thursday, September 29, 2011: Reading from Ed Pavlic
  • Thursday, October 6, 2011: Reading from Susanne Antonetta
  • Thursday, October 27, 2011: Reading from Bruce Whiteman
  • Friday, October 28, 2011: Reading from Jeff Porter
  • Thursday, November 3, 2011: Reading from Jane Bernstein
  • Thursday, December 8, 2011: Grinnell Review

 Other Campus Readings organized by Burling Library   

New: Next year's Writers@Grinnell Schedule

Fall dates

  • Thursday, September 13, 2012: Reading from Natalie Bakopoulos, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 27, 2012: Reading from Sam Tanenhaus, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 4, 2012: Reading from Charles Baxter, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m
  • Thursday, October 11, 2012: Reading from May-lee Chai '89, Faulconer Gallery, 8:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, November 11, 2012: Reading from Davy and Peter Rothbart of FOUND magazine, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, December 6, 2012: Grinnell Review, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.

Spring dates

  • Thursday, February 21, 2013: Reading from Madeleine Thien, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, February 28, 2013: Reading from Randa Jarrar, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m
  • Thursday, April 4, 2013: Natasha Trethewey, Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 8:00 p.m
  • Wednesday, April 10, 2013: Katha Politt (Convocation), Rosenfield Center, Room 101, 12:00 p.m.

  • Thursday, May 2, 2013: Grinnell Review, Faulconer Gallery, 8:00 p.m