SD writers’ series coming to DSU

Six South Dakota writers will visit Madison and Dakota State University this year, thanks to grant funding from the South Dakota Humanities Council.  

DSU English professor Dr. Justin Blessinger worked with Madison Area Arts Council President Chris Francis to apply for the grant, which will fund the series of South Dakota authors. 

Blessinger said that they are planning to do an afternoon reading on campus and an evening reading at the Arts Council’s Brickhouse for each visiting writer.

Three authors will kick off the event with readings this spring.  Pen Pearson, author of “Bloomsbury’s Late Rose” will do readings on March 3rd.  

Former South Dakota resident Brian Bedard has a book of short stories coming out this month and will do readings in Madison on April 1st.  

And Dr. Joseph Bottum, a DSU associate professor of philosophy and author of “The Decline of the Novel” will do a reading on April 21st.  

Schedule:

*Pen Pearson is author of “Bloomsbury’s Late Rose,” a work of historical fiction about the Victorian poet Charlotte Mew. Pearson will do a reading on Tuesday, March 3, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

*Brian Bedard, former South Dakota resident, has a book of short stories coming out this month. He writes with South Dakota as a setting, and will do a reading on Wednesday, April 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

 *Dr. Josephh Bottum, DSU associate professor of philosophy and author of “The Decline of the Novel” will do a reading on Tuesday, April 21 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

 *In Fall 2020, three poets will read from their publications. Christine Stewart is South Dakota’s current poet laureate and author of “Bluewords Greening” and “Untrussed.” Lee Ann Roripaugh, former South Dakota poet laureate, is the author of “Tsunami vs. the Fukushima 50: poems.” John Nelson, author of poetry chapbook “West River,” will be the third poet.