When Dr. Emily Carr, director of the OSU-Cascades Low-Residency MFA, went looking for a mentor for her students and a writer who could assist with designing the curriculum, she quickly set her sights on bestselling National Book Award nominee, T. Geronimo Johnson. Join Carr, OSU-Cascades MFA students and Johnson for a lively afternoon of readings, discussion and sharing at Second Sunday, the Library’s celebration of the written word. The reading begins at 2:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Johnson’s books will be available for sale following the reading.

Sunday, November 8, 2015 | 2:00 p.m.
Downtown Bend Library

“Each year, program participants are mentored by an accomplished writer,” says Carr. “I was looking for a writer who would be enthusiastic about the freedoms and challenges of growing an innovative, holistic MFA, and who would inspire our students to make art that is touched by, and in turn touches, the world,” she says. “Geronimo is all of that, and more. Like the rest of our MFA faculty, he distinguishes himself by his commitment to working collaboratively and by modeling what it means to be a whole writer,” she says.

Carr tells prospective students that one of the primary reasons to get an MFA is to develop relationships with writers who will be passionate advocates for their work in the world. “Mentorships give students an opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty and to develop relationships outside the confines of the classroom,” she says. “Because each faculty works with a maximum of six students, they can also provide our students with the individualized instruction artists need to grow into their full, and fully individual, potential,” says Carr.

Johnson’s second novel, Welcome to Braggsville, tells the story of four UC Berkeley students who stage a mock lynching in protest during a Civil War reenactment. It is a dark and socially provocative comedy, fierce, funny and tragic all at the same time. A New York Times bestseller, Welcome to Braggsville was recently nominated for the National Book Award. “What's most remarkable to me is not just his success but also being able to experience a writer taking that next step--into national and international recognition. I'm beyond delighted that Geronimo will be able to share that with the Central Oregon community,” says Carr.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz at 312-1032.