October 15, 2012 (Jackson) - The Creative Writing Department will host its ninth season of literary readings and workshops by professional writers. Sandra Beasley, an award-winning poet, is this years’ distinguished guest. Belhaven will welcome Beasley to the Belhaven Center for the Arts Recital Room on Tuesday, October 16 at 8:00 P.M.

“Sandra has been called one of the up and coming young poets to watch. She has already won several important national awards for her poetry and nonfiction writing,” said Dr. Randall Smith, Chairman and Professor of Creative Writing.

Beasley is the author of I Was the Jukebox, winner of the Barnard Women Poets Prize; Theories of Falling, winner of the New Issues Poetry Prize; and the memoir Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life.

She joins a list of well-known writers who have read at Belhaven and led master writing workshops, including Elizabeth Spencer, Kent Haruf, Howard Bahr, Neil White, Beth Ann Fennelly, Richard Tillinghast, Darrell Bourque, Susan Ludvigson, Paul Ruffin, and Jack Bedell.

Creative writing students will have their work critiqued and get to spend some time with Beasley during a writing workshop that afternoon.

Smith adds, “As has been the case in the past, Belhaven benefits from its location in Mississippi, a literary crossroads and destination point for many writers. Belhaven will host Sandra Beasley as part of her trip to read at Mississippi State University.”

Admission is free to this event. See below for schedule:

Lunch with Professors/Students
12:00 - 1:30 P.M.
Cafeteria/Student Center

Workshop with Writing Students
2:00 – 3:00 P.M.
Joy Lackey (Student Center)

Public Reading
8:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Recital Room (Center for the Arts)

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Belhaven University stands among select Christian colleges and universities and has been repeatedly named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys." The University offers 30 academic majors across a full spectrum of disciplines as well as a variety of graduate programs. In addition, Belhaven has achieved the distinction of being among only 30 universities nationally accredited in each of the major arts – music, theatre, visual art and dance. All programs are taught from a Christian worldview perspective and are guided by the mission to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Belhaven University serves over 3,700 students offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on its residential campus, an online degree program, and graduate and adult degree programs in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.