by
Miranda Peterson
The 2015 Steel Pen Creative Writers’ Conference is
quickly approaching. Along with its speedy arrival is the anticipation of the
conference’s Featured Reading from Noon–1:00, with Bryan Furuness and Michal
Poore. Each author has an incredibly unique style, destined to have the
audience buckling their seatbelts and holding on to their pens at the very
start of the session.
Bryan Furuness, the 2015 Steel Pen Creative Writers’
Conference’s keynote speaker, is an instructor at Butler University, a writer,
and an editor. He is a northwest Indiana native, which is reflected in his
novel The Lost Episodes of
Revie Bryson. Bryan Furuness with Michael Martone is co-editor of Winesburg,
Indiana. His other creative writing works have been published in various
literary magazines.
In regard to the Fiction Reading, Bryan Furuness is strengthening the
anticipation of registered conference attendees by giving no word on what
pieces he intends to read. Though
readers of Furuness’ work have an idea of his creative style, the reading itself
will amplify the overall experience of his creative literary pieces. When it
comes to Q&A following the reading, roles may be reversed. Furuness will
need to buckle his seatbelt as audience attendees question everything from
novel writing to publishing. When asked to reflect on past Q&A experiences,
Furuness responded, “The minute
I end a Q&A, I am filled with hot regret. I want to revise all my answers,
but I've yet to meet the audience that will cooperate with this request.” The 2015
Steel Pen Reading and Q&A will hopefully give Furuness the opportunity to
keep the audience intrigued, then to relax, loosen his seatbelt, and give his
best response to every question.
Michael Poore, the co-speaker at the midday reading, has
similar Midwestern roots, being born and raised in Ohio. After two years of
undergraduate school at Ohio University, then numerous interesting jobs, Poore returned
to OU and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Education. During his time at OU, Michael
Poore published a cartoon strip in the OU
Post. Creative Writing courses at OU
were what led him into more serious creative writing. Poore’s “massive
upheaval” in life came when he “was working as a substitute teacher, and [he]
moved from SE Ohio to Chicagoland.” From that point on, Poore has published
numerous pieces in various literary publications. Poore’s more recent writing
career includes writing and publishing Up
Jumps the Devil, along with six months of radio interviews and book
signings to promote the work. Poore revealed, “Now things are quiet again, and I’m working on a new novel.”
The fiction reading
by Michael Poore is sure to excite the audience. Poore’s physical voice as an
author will reveal the true creative element of his literary work. When asked
to reflect on past Q&A experiences, Poore responded, “The thing that stays
with me is always the people who came to listen and participate . . . The audience turns the event from a plan and a
schedule into a living thing.” In order to keep pace with the theme of the
reading, Poore reiterates, “It’s a two way street, after all.” The author and
audience connection and experience for this reading will be positively seat
gripping. Poore’s concluding element of a reading is that “[He] feel[s] ten
feet tall after a reading. More importantly,
[he] tend[s] to feel that the audience consists of giants, too.”
The 2015 Steel Pen
Writers’ Conference takes place October 10, 2015. For registration information
visit http://www.indianawritersconsortium.org/IWC-creative-writing-conference.asp.
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