Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Department of English, Foreign Language and Humanities will play host to four remaining events in April for the “Community Reads” series to celebrate the visit of spring 2017 Visiting Writer Mary Anna Evans on April 12-13.
Members of the department welcome Northwestern students, faculty and staff as well as surrounding community members to partake in these events and the reading of novels from the “Faye Longchamp” series by Evans. All events are free.
“Artifacts” is a mystery from the series featuring archaeologist Longchamp. As part of the “community reads” model, the department has organized interdisciplinary speakers on topics related to the novel. These speakers will serve to frame the novel for those interested in reading it, are already into the novel, or are just interested in the topic. Familiarity with the novel is not required to attend—or enjoy—any of the framing lectures.
“I’m honored to be chosen out of all the wonderful authors in Oklahoma to be Northwestern’s 2017 Visiting Writer, and having Artifacts chosen for a community read is very special to me,” Evans said. “It was my first book, and it launched a series that has been the highlight of my 14-year career as a novelist. The protagonist of those books, archaeologist [Faye] Longchamp, has come to feel very real to me, and I’m happy to know that she’s being introduced to so many people.”
Remaining events are:
Tuesday, April 4
Neil Garrison (from Yukon) will be performing a “Flint Knapping” demonstration on April 4 from 5-6 p.m. on the north side of Jesse Dunn in association with the Community Reads event. In case of inclement weather, the event will take place in the Student Center Ballroom. Flint knapping is the process of chipping materials to produce sharp points (like arrowheads).
Then, at 6 p.m. “’Artifacts’ and the System: Legal Woes and Literary Tropes” will take place in the Northwestern-Alva Education Center, room 109. Speakers will be Jeff McAlpin, instructor of sociology and criminal justice at Northwestern and Bill Johnson Correctional Center (BJCC) administrative director; and Dr. Roxie James, Northwestern lecturer. Upon request, this event will be broadcast via ITV to Northwestern’s locations in Enid, Woodward and Ponca City only if interested participants RSVP with their name and Northwestern campus location to English@nwosu.edu by April 2nd.
Wednesday, April 12
“Meet the Author: The Alva Community Welcomes Mary Anna Evans at the Graceful Arts Gallery” is Wednesday, April 12, at 5 p.m. This event is specifically tailored for community involvement to meet the author of the “Faye Longchamp” series. Those interested in attending are not required to read the books in order to meet the author.
Thursday, April 13
At 7 p.m. the Visiting Writer Series with Evans herself will take place in the Northwestern-Alva Education Center, room 109. Evans will read from the 10th Longchamp book, “Burials” which is set in Oklahoma. Evans will take questions from the audience and talk about the success of the “Faye Longchamp” series. There will be a book signing following this event.
From March 7 through April 13, Northwestern’s Natural History Museum, located on the second floor of Jesse Dunn, will have a display specifically tailored to the novel and the archaeology it features. This will allow Northwestern students and community to participate if they are unable to attend the evening events. The Natural History Museum is open Monday through Friday from 1-4 p.m.
The Visiting Writer’s Series is a way to bring Oklahoma Writers to northwest Oklahoma every spring to discuss writing, the publishing industry and to share their work. This annual series is made possible through donations and raised funds. Anyone interested in giving a tax-deductible donation to the series or have questions about it may contact Dr. Kathryn Lane at (580) 327-8470 or kelane@nwosu.edu.