Jim Tressel reading daughter's poetry at Â鶹ֱ²¥ showcase in Merriman Valley
Jim Tressel is stepping out of his usual role as Â鶹ֱ²¥ of Akron's vice president for student success to share another love: poetry.
Jim Tressel and Carlee Tressel Alson.
Tressel plans to read works by his daughter — poet, essayist and fiction writer Carlee Tressel Alson — during "Poetry Night in the Valley" on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. at Max McQ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 1562 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron.
Free and open to the public, the event will showcase the creative writing program of Â鶹ֱ²¥'s Department of English.
Also during the event, published authors who teach in Â鶹ֱ²¥'s creative writing program will read their works, sign books and share tips about publishing. They include Mary Biddinger, Julie Drew, David Giffels, James Renner and Eric Wasserman.
Biddinger, Â鶹ֱ²¥ associate professor of English and author of five collections of poetry, will read from "Small Enterprise," her soon-to-be published full-length collection of poems. She will be joined by Â鶹ֱ²¥ student writers Sarah Dravec of Boardman, Nathan Kemp of Mansfield and James Phillips of Medina.
An editor, writer and the assistant chair of the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Department of English, Biddinger teaches literature and creative writing with a focus on poetry. Her work has appeared in many poetry journals as well as her four books: "Prairie Fever" (2007), "Saint Monica" (2011), "O Holy Insurgency" (2013) and the upcoming "A Sunny Place with Adequate Water" (2014).
The event will include a meet-and-greet with the authors from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The poetry reading at 7 p.m. will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by an open mic for community poets so that attendees can share their own creative works. For more information, call 330-972-7472.
"I look forward to hearing Jim give voice to his daughter's poetry," said William Thelin, Â鶹ֱ²¥ English professor and department chair.
"Poetry and writing really are for everyone," added Thelin. "Because of the vitality of our creative writing program and the strength of our faculty, Â鶹ֱ²¥ of Akron has much to offer to aspiring writers."
Media contact: Cyndee Snider, 330-972-5196 or cyndee@uakron.edu.