Tim Seibles, whose collection of poems, “Fast Animal,” was a finalist for the 2012 National Book Award, will host a poetry workshop from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, in Kirby Hall Salon at Wilkes University.
The workshop, sponsored by Wilkes University’s graduate creative writing program, is free and open to the public.
One of America’s foremost African-American poets, Seibles has authored six previous books of poetry.
During the workshop, Seibles will read several poems from “Fast Animal,” discuss his creative process and conduct a writing exercise with attendees. There also will be time for questions, and he will sign books. Those who plan to attend should sign up by email with Etruscan Press at [email protected] or call 570-408-4546.
“Fast Animal” is available at a 25 percent discount prior to the event. The book can be purchased between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Etruscan offices at 245 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre, or at any time by emailing Etruscan Press managing editor Starr Troup at [email protected].
A highly active ambassador for poetry, Seibles presents his work nationally and internationally at universities, high schools, cultural centers, and literary festivals. Born in Philadelphia in 1955, he recently spent a semester as Poet in Residence at Bucknell University, a post awarded annually by the Stadler Center for Poetry.
His poem, “Allison Wolff,” was anthologized in Best American Poetry 2010. He has been a featured author in the Vancouver International Writers Festival in Vancouver, Canada, in the Calabash Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, and in the Poesia en Voz Alto Festival in Mexico City.
Seibles lives in Norfolk, Va., where he is a member of the English Department and MFA in writing faculty of Old Dominion University. He is a teaching board member of the Muse Writers Workshop. He also teaches part-time for the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast MFA in Writing Program, a low-residency program.
“Fast Animal” was published by nonprofit Etruscan Press, which is housed in the graduate Creative Writing Department at Wilkes University, 245 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Etruscan Press was founded in 2001 with initial funding from the Oristaglio Foundation. The press publishes five to six literary works each year in the genres of poetry, creative nonfiction, essay, translation, and fiction. To date, 40 titles have been published, 29 of them carrying the Wilkes University logo.
Etruscan’s Executive Editor Dr. Philip Brady is a member of Wilkes University’s creative writing program’s faculty as is Dr. Robert Mooney, co-founder and fiction editor of Etruscan.