1455’s Author Series continues virtually with Joanna Eleftheriou, Claire McQuerry, Jessie van Eerden.
“I don’t know what the nature of the universe is,” writes Mary Gordon, “but I have a good ear.” How do writers approach the Big Questions of the spiritual life, the nature of things, in their craft? How to balance ideas and music? What is the relationship between spiritual practice and artistic practice? What can be challenging (and joyful) about dialoguing with spiritual heritage in creative work? Essayist Joanna Eleftheriou, poet Claire McQuerry, and novelist Jessie van Eerden are three women writers who engage these questions in their recent books. Join us for readings from their work, a conversation about writing spirituality, and a presentation of writing prompts to take back to your desk.
Claire McQuerry is author of the poetry collection Lacemakers, winner of the Crab Orchard First Book Prize. Her poems have appeared in Tin House, Fugue, Poetry Northwest, Gettysburg Review, RHINO, Waxwing, and other journals. She is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Bradley University.
Joanna Eleftheriou is author of the essay collection This Way Back. Her essays appear in Crab Orchard Review, Arts and Letters, The Common, and Sweeter Voices Still: An LGBTQ Anthology from Middle America. A contributing editor at Assay: A Journal of Nonfiction Studies, Joanna holds a PhD in English from the University of Missouri and teaches at Christopher Newport University and the Writing Workshops in Greece.
Jessie van Eerden is the author of the portrait essay collection The Long Weeping and three novels: Glorybound, My Radio Radio, and Call It Horses which won the 2019 Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction and was released March 2021. Her work has appeared in Best American Spiritual Writing, Oxford American, Image, New England Review, and other magazines and anthologies. Jessie holds an MFA in nonfiction from the University of Iowa and teaches creative writing at Hollins University.
– 1455 is thrilled to partner with The Potter’s House bookshop.
Event Details
June 15 | 7:00 PM | FREE EVENT
1455’s Founding Director Sean Murphy and the authors will discuss their work. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions prior to or during the conversation. Submit your questions ahead of time by emailing @1455litarts.org.
1455’s Author Series events are free, but you can make a donation to support us in offering accessible programing.
Tune into this event on Facebook at the event time to watch the live stream!
