Three UF alumni authors will visit UF this weekend for the 2009 Florida Writers’ Festival.
The festival, organized by the English Department’s Creative Writing Program, is in its 25th year and brings famous authors, poets and writers to UF.
“The festival gives students a chance to meet the writers they have been reading in the undergraduate program,” said David Leavitt, a co-director of the festival.
Four authors are visiting this year: Chris Adrian, Chris Bachelder, Chris Tusa and C.D. Wright. Adrian and Bachelder are novelists, while Tusa and Wright are poets.
“[Bachelder and Adrian] are both innovative, adventurous writers on the cutting edge on today’s fiction,” Leavitt said.
Adiran, Bachelder and Tusa have all earned either bachelors or masters degrees at UF.
“We liked the idea of having them because they’re all UF alums and they’re all named Chris,” Leavitt said, adding they would inspire students who plan to become writers after graduation.
The authors will each be doing a reading Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at the Alachua County Public Library and Smathers Library East.
There will also be an informal talk with Bachelder, Adrian and Wright at Smathers Library East Saturday afternoon.
Each event is free and open to the public, and food will be provided.
The festival is being held in conjunction with Smathers Library and the Alachua County Library system. The authors are being paid about $2,500 each for the visit.
