Bestselling Author Karen Thompson Walker to Lead Workshop, Writer-in-Residence Sessions
Posted By: Tina Walker Davis
Date Posted: 12/19/2019
Before publishing her first novel, The Age of Miracles, Karen Thompson Walker worked as an editor for publisher Simon & Schuster. There, she gained insight into the machinations of publishing. “You find out quickly just how hard it is to publish a book and how hard it is to get attention for a book, especially literary fiction or maybe fiction in general,” she said in an interview with Powell’s City of books. “But it was also really good for me, especially learning to do the actual editing. I had a couple of really great mentors, and I know that it made me a better writer.”
Today, Walker helps budding writers as an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Oregon. She will bring that spirit of mentorship to the Downtown Bend Library in January when she leads a writing workshop; presents a reading of her latest novel, The Dreamers; and hosts a day of office hours as a Writer in Residence. All events are free and open to the public; the workshop and office hours require advance registration.
Reading: Karen Thompson Walker reads from her latest novel, The Dreamers.
Workshop: This fiction workshop will focus on beginnings. Through a series of in-class writing exercises and readings, we will explore what makes for a great opening page. This discussion serves as a jumping-off point for a wider conversation about various craft elements, including voice, point of view, dialogue, description, detail and character. Space is limited and registration is required.
Office Hours: Writer-in-Residence Karen Thompson Walker leads participants through a 30-minute one-on-one coaching session. Learn more about the sessions here. Space is limited and registration is required; reserve a spot by calling (541) 312-1063 or emailing Paige at paigef@deschuteslibrary.org.
About Karen Thompson Walker: Bestselling author Karen Thompson Walker is the New York Times bestselling author of two novels, The Dreamers, which has been optioned for television by Fox 21 and is a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice pick, and The Age of Miracles, which was named one of the best books of the year by Financial Times, Publishers Weekly, People, O., The Oprah Magazine and Amazon. Her TED Talk about fear and the imagination has been viewed more than two million times. She is an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Oregon.
For more information about these and 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 Paige Ferro at paigef@deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1032.