WVU Graduate to Read Collection of Short Stories at Barnes and Noble

Morgantown, WV, September 20, 2006: West Virginia University graduate and WVU Press author, Valerie Nieman, will read on Friday, October 6, 2006, at the University Towne Center Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Nieman will read from Fidelities, her collection of eighteen short stories, as well as from her newest publication, Wake, Wake, Wake, a collection of poetry published by Press 53.

Fidelities, primarily set in the Applachia of the Mountain State is a collection of stories about the people, places, and subtleties of West Virginia. Therese Boyd, a professor of creative writing at Penn State praises Fidelities’ “panoramic shot” of life in rural Appalachia. Ruth Moose, a creative writing professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, says “Nieman writes stories that show real people in real life.” She also praises Nieman’s ability to write from multiple points of view, “Nieman is one of few writers who is equally at home and at ease in both male and female viewpoints.”

In conjunction with the reading on Friday evening, the Morgantown Writers Group will sponsor a writer’s workshop with Nieman on Saturday, October 7, 2006, at the Morgantown Public Library, located on Spruce Street. The workshop will focus on Ekphrastic poetry (poetry inspired by works of art). Registration will begin at 9:30 am with the workshop lasting until 11:45 am with a “dutch treat” lunch to follow.

Fidelities, published by the Vandalia Press, is Nieman’s first published collection of short stories. She has previously authored Survivors, a novel about the aftermath of the Veitnam War, and her new collection of poetry, Wake, Wake, Wake.

The Vandalia Press is the West Virginia University Press’ literary imprint, specializing in contemporary poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Since 2001, Vandalia Press has published one or two literary titles each year by regional writers or by other authors whose work has a strong connection to Appalachia or West Virginia. Among Vandalia Press’ authors are Richard Currey, West Virginia Poet Laureate Irene McKinney. Lee Maynard and most recently, Priscilla Rodd (Surviving Mae West) and Kevin Oderman (Going).

Nieman is a graduate of West Virginia University’s Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. Since graduation, she has developed a career as a fiction writer while being a full-time journalist as well as currently being an assistant professor at the North Carolina A&T State University where she currently teaches English and Journalism.

The Morgantown Writers Group holds critiques and workshops, focusing on short stories, poetry, genre, and memoirs, twice a month. The Morgantown Writers Group has published an anthology titled The Mist On The Mon and has several writers that have been awarded at the West Virginia Writers’ spring competition.

For additional information about the book reading visit www.wvupress.com or call 1-866-WVUPRESS.

For information about the writer’s workshop or the Morgantown Writer’s Group contact George Lies at glies@wvu.edu.

W-V-U