Writers Series Brings Oates, O'Nan To Campus

BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University presents its fall 2011 Contemporary Writers Series. Authors will read from their works at 7:30 p.m., followed by an audience question and answer period. Seating is limited. The evening events, which are all free and open to the public, will conclude with a reception and book-signing. 

Award-winning fiction writer Stewart O’Nan will visit Canisius on Thursday, October 6 in the Grupp Fireside Lounge. He is the author of 12 novels, including Snow Angels, A Prayer for the Dying, Songs for the Missing, Last Night at the Lobster, and, most recently, Emily, Alone. O’Nan also wrote two works of nonfiction, The Circus Fire and Faithful (with Stephen King). In 2010,Granta named him one of the 20 Best Young American Novelists.

Lockport native Joyce Carol Oates will speak at Canisius on Monday, October 24 in the Montante Cultural Center. One of the country’s most prolific and versatile contemporary writers, Oates is the author of more than 70 books including novels, short story collections, poetry volumes, plays, literary criticism and essays. Her writing has earned her critical acclaim and many awards including the National Book Award for her novel them, the 2004 Fairfax Prize for lifetime achievement in the literary arts, the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in short fiction and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Last March, President Obama presented Oates with a National Humanities Medal in honor of her lifetime of literary achievement. She currently serves as the Roger S. Berlind Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Princeton University.

The Contemporary Writers Series was developed by Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English and Lowery Writer-in-Residence at Canisius. The series was founded with a grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation, and continues through the generous support of the Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship Program, the Office of Academic Affairs, the Quasi Endowment, the Fitzpatrick Chair, and the Hassett and Scoma Endowments; and with the cooperation of The Buffalo and Erie Country Public Library, Just Buffalo Literary Center, the Western New York Writing Project and Talking Leaves Books. 

For more information on the Contemporary Writers Series, contact Cochrane at 716-888-2662 or visit canisius.edu/writers. 

Canisius University is one of 28 Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.