{"id":13,"date":"2012-07-02T18:17:38","date_gmt":"2012-07-02T22:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T16:50:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T20:50:55","slug":"visiting-author-series","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/visiting-author-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Author Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Kratz Center for Creative Writing regularly welcomes a distinguished Visiting Author to Goucher College who is nationally or internationally renowned for their writing. The author reads from their work, signs books, conducts master classes, and meets with students and community members.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fall 2025<\/h2>\n

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The Kratz Center is proud to present the Fall 2025 Visiting Author:<\/p>\n

Jennifer De Leon<\/strong> is the award-winning author of the YA novels,\u00a0Borderless<\/em>, featured on the TODAY show, and\u00a0Don\u2019t Ask Me Where I\u2019m From<\/em>. She is also the author of\u00a0White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, & Writing<\/em>, which won the Juniper Prize from the University of Massachusetts Press. Jenn is the editor of\u00a0Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education<\/em>, an International Latino Book Award-winning anthology. As an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Framingham State University and faculty member for the Newport MFA Program at Salve Regina University, she has published prose in over a dozen literary journals including\u00a0Ploughshares, Iowa Review,\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Michigan Quarterly Review<\/em>.<\/p>\n

She will give a reading and book signing of her latest novel, Borderless.<\/em><\/p>\n

The event is free and open to the public.<\/p>\n

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Past Events<\/h2>\n

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FALL 2024<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center was honored to welcome award-winning author Maria Melendez Kelson as the 2024 Visiting Author.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, September 17th, Melendez Kelson will read from her debut novel, Not the Killing Kind, which won the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Crime Fiction Writers of Color.<\/p>\n

Her two Poetry Collections – How Long She’ll Last in This World (2006), and Flexible Bones (2010) – were finalists for the PEN Center USA Literary Award and the Colorado Book Award.<\/p>\n

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FALL 2023<\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center proudly welcomed National Book Award Finalist Allegra Goodman as the Fall 2023 Visiting Author.<\/p>\n

Goodman\u2019s novels include Sam<\/em> (a Read with Jenna Book Club selection), The Chalk Artist<\/em> (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award), Intuition<\/em>, The Cookbook Collector,<\/em> Paradise Park<\/em>, and Kaaterskill Falls<\/em> (a National Book Award finalist). Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She is the recipient of a Whiting Writer\u2019s Award, the Salon Award for Fiction, and a fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced study.<\/p>\n

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FALL 2022<\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center was honored to welcome award-winning author Percival Everett as the Fall 2022 Visiting Author.<\/p>\n

Most recently, his novel Dr. No<\/em> has exploded on to shelves following 2021’s The Trees<\/em> landing him as a finalist for the 2022 Booker Prize.<\/p>\n

Everett is a polymath of genres- he’s written children’s books, spy novels, short story collections, retellings of Greek tragedies, and more.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/em>FALL 2021<\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center for Creative Writing at Goucher College welcomed Goucher alum Gabby Rivera as the Fall 2021 Visiting Author.<\/p>\n

Rivera holds the distinction of being the first Latina to write for Marvel Comics with her work in the solo series, <\/span>America.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0In 2017, her critically acclaimed debut novel\u00a0<\/span>Juliet Takes a Breath\u00a0<\/span><\/em>was awarded the Independent Publisher Book Award for LGBT+ fiction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rivera is also the writer and creator of the original comic series b.b. free<\/em> and has contributed to a variety of anthologies, including <\/span>The Secret Love of Geeks\u00a0<\/span><\/em>and\u00a0<\/span>Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>FALL 2019<\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center for Creative Writing at Goucher College welcomed Charles R. Johnson as the Fall 2019 Kratz Center Visiting Author.<\/p>\n

Johnson is the second African American man (after Ralph Ellison) to win the National Book Award, for his novel Middle Passage<\/em>, and he has also received an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a MacArthur Fellowship, and numerous other prizes and awards. His novels and short stories have been translated into many languages.<\/p>\n

Johnson read from his work on October 15, 2019, in Kraushaar Auditorium.\u00a0 Earlier that day, Johnson was part of a panel with Ethelbert Miller and Marc Steiner in The Soper Room of the Julia Rogers Building.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>FALL 2018<\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center for Creative Writing at Goucher College proudly presented our Fall 2018 Visiting Author Mary Gaitskill for two events on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.<\/p>\n

Mary Gaitskill is the author of the novels\u00a0The Mare<\/em>, which was nominated for the 2005 National Book Award; and\u00a0Two Girls, Fat and Thin<\/em>. She is also the author of the short story collections\u00a0Bad Behavior;<\/em>\u00a0Because They Wanted To<\/em>, which was nominated for the PEN\/Faulkner Award, and Don’t Cry. <\/em>Her most recent collection of essays,\u00a0Somebody With A Little Hammer<\/em>, was published in 2017.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

\"Elizabeth<\/a>FALL 2017<\/em><\/p>\n

The Kratz Center for Creative Writing at Goucher College proudly presented Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout for two events on October 17, 2017.<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, the author gave a presentation called, “Why You Don’t Need To Worry About Plot\u201d in the Soper Room of the Julia Rogers Building.<\/p>\n

In the evening, Ms. Strout read from and signed copies of her brand new novel, Anything Is Possible<\/em>, which was written in tandem\u00a0with her bestseller My Name is Lucy Barton<\/em>.\u00a0Anything is Possible<\/em>\u00a0draws on the lives of the small-town characters evoked in the discussion between Lucy and her mother.<\/p>\n

Born in Portland, Maine, Strout graduated from Bates College with a degree in English in 1977. She received a law degree along with a Certificate in Gerontology from Syracuse University College of Law. Strout has taught creative writing at Manhattan College, The New School, Bard College, Colgate University, and Queens University of Charlotte. She divides her time between Maine and New York City.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>FALL 2016<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer Prize Winner and bestselling author, joined us on Monday night, October 24, 2016 for a reading and book signing in the Hyman Forum of the Ungar Athenaeum at Goucher College. That day she also spoke at a \u201cMaster Class\u201d event in Buchner Hall in the Alumnae\/Alumni House.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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FALL 2015<\/em><\/p>\n

Gail Godwin, the bestselling author and three-time National Book Award Finalist, joined us on October 1,2015 for a reading and book signing in Kraushaar Auditorium. That day, there was also a \u201cmeet the author\u201d event in the Soper Room of the Julia Rogers Building.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/div>\n
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Fall Kratz Authors (from top left to bottom right): Ann Patchett, Robert Stone, Edward P. Jones, Louise Erdrich, Colm Toibin, and Carolyn Chute<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

FALL 2014<\/em><\/p>\n

Jennifer Weiner<\/a><\/strong> joined us on Wednesday October 8, 2014 to discuss her work and sign books in the Hyman Forum of the Sanford J. Ungar Athenaeum. That day, she also met with students and community members in the Soper Room of the Julia Rogers Building.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

FALL 2013<\/em><\/p>\n

Lynda Barry<\/strong><\/a> joined us on Wednesday September 25, 2013 for a reading, discussion and book signing at 8 PM in Goucher’s Hyman Forum. Lynda Barry also offered two master classes on Monday and Tuesday September 23 and 24, 2013 from 4-6 PM in Goucher’s Batza Room. For more information, click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

FALL 2012<\/em><\/p>\n

Colm T\u00f3ib\u00edn<\/strong><\/a> joined us on Monday, November 12, 2012 at 8 p.m. for a reading and book signing at the Kraushaar Auditorium. That day he also met with students and community members for a small, informal chat at 3:30 p.m. in the Siebert Curriculum Resource Center of the Library within Goucher\u2019s Athenaeum.<\/p>\n

FALL 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

Sherman Alexie<\/strong>\u2014the award-winning Native American author, poet, and filmmaker\u2014gave a presentation, answered questions, and signed copies of his books on Wednesday, September 21 in Goucher College’s Kraushaar Auditorium. He also participated in an informal meet-and-greet with students on the day of his visit in the Siebert Curriculum Resource Center of Goucher’s Library in the Athenaeum.<\/p>\n

Ann Patchett<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2010 Visiting Author. She read from her work on Wednesday September 29, 2010 in the Kraushaar Auditorium and held a conversation with students and the community in the Soper Room.<\/p>\n

Carolyn Chute<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2009 Visiting Author. She read from her work at the Hyman Forum at the newly opened Athenaeum and held a conversation with the community in the Siebert Curriculum Resource Center in the Goucher College Library on Thursday October 22, 2009 at 8 PM.<\/p>\n

Louise Erdrich<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2008 Visiting Author. She read from her work on Tuesday October 28, 2008 in the Kraushaar Auditorium and met with students that afternoon in the Soper Room of the Julia Rogers Library.<\/p>\n

Edward P. Jones<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s fall 2007 visiting author. He read from his work at on Monday October 15, 2007 in the Kraushaar Auditorium. Goucher’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Kratz Center co-sponsored a conversation with Mr. Jones on the same day in the Soper Room of the Julia Rogers Library.<\/p>\n

Marjane Satrapi<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2006 Visiting Author. She read from her work on Wednesday November 1, 2006 in Kraushaar Auditorium and, on the day prior, held a master class with creative writing and visual art students in the Soper Room.<\/p>\n

W. S. Merwin<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2005 Visiting Author. He read from his work on Tuesday October 11, 2005 at Kraushaar Auditorium and met with students in the Soper Room on the day prior to his reading.<\/p>\n

Robert Stone<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2004 Visiting Author. He read from his work on Monday October 11, 2004 at the Kraushaar Auditorium and met with students on the same day in the Soper Room.<\/p>\n

Julia Alvarez and Edwidge Danticat<\/strong> were the Kratz Center’s Fall 2003 Visiting Authors. They read from their work at Goucher’s Kraushaar Auditorium on Wednesday October 23, 2003 and held a conversation with the community on the same day.<\/p>\n

Seamus Heaney<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2002 Visiting Author. He read from his poetry on Thursday, October 24, 2002 in Kraushaar Auditorium.<\/p>\n

Reynolds Price<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s Fall 2000 Visiting Author. He read from his work on Wednesday, October 25, 2000 in Kraushaar Auditorium.<\/p>\n

David Guterson<\/strong> was the Kratz Center’s inaugural Fall Visiting Author. He read from his work on Monday, September 13, 1999 in Kraushaar Auditorium.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kratz Center for Creative Writing regularly welcomes a distinguished Visiting Author to Goucher College who is nationally or internationally renowned for their writing. The author reads from their work, signs books, conducts master classes, and meets with students and community members. Fall 2025 The Kratz Center is proud to present the Fall 2025 Visiting … Continue reading Visiting Author Series<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":312,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":113,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1948,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/1948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.goucher.edu\/kratz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}