Acclaimed author next up in Frostic Series

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—An award-winning poet, painter, filmmaker and editor will lead off the Western Michigan University Fall 2015 Frostic Reading Series.

Richard Siken will read from his works at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in 157-159 Bernhard Center. His presentation is free and open to the public.

Richard Siken

Siken is editor of Spork Press, a small press in Tucson, Arizona, which he constructed along with Drew Burk, Andrew Shuta, Joel Smith and Jake Levine. Beginning in 2001, it began publishing a quarterly literary magazine called Spork.

Siken's book "Crush" won the 2004 Yale Series of Younger Poets prize, a Lambda Literary Award, the Thom Gunn Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He has received a Pushcart Prize, two Arizona Commission for the Arts Grants, two Lannan Residencies and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. His most recent book is "War of the Foxes."

Siken's work has won praise in literary circles.

"He effectively juxtaposes holy wishes with mundane images--making them both seem beautiful by some strange lyrical alchemy," wrote Nell Casey, editor of three books, including the national bestseller "Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression.

Upcoming readings

Other upcoming readings presented as part of the Fall 2015 Frostic Reading Series include:

• Nov. 19: Alumni reading with Heather A Slomski, Traci Brimhall and Adam Pasen, 8 p.m., 157-159 Bernhard Center.

• Dec. 2: Arnold Johnston and Deborah Ann Percy, 8 p.m., 208-209 Bernhard Center.

For more information, visit wmich.edu/english/events/frostic.

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