During the third annual Prairie Gate Literary Festival, February 21–23, 2013, aspiring writers and literary enthusiasts will experience free public readings from nationally and internationally-recognized authors. This year, we have two Minnesota Book Award winners, Ed Bok Lee (2011 winner for poetry) and Brian Malloy (2009 winner for young adult fiction). We are also excited to welcome Adam McOmber, whose first novel was released to critical acclaim in September 2012. The festival line-up is rounded out with poet Mary Biddinger and memoirist Patti See
The mission of the festival is to provide the University of Minnesota, Morris and Lake Region of Minnesota unique opportunities to learn from and interact with published writers and other professionals in the field of literary arts through such activities as readings, workshops, and panel discussions. Invited authors are chosen partly for the diversity of their backgrounds and styles, and are meant to appeal to a wide variety of audience members. This year features events that are bound to please as the Prairie Gate Literary Festival builds the role of the literary arts in our community!
This activity is funded Friends of the Prairie Gate Literary Festival, Briggs Library, Briggs Library Associates, the UMM English Discipline, Friends of the Morris Public Library, the International Programs Committee, the UMM Division of Humanities, the UMM Alumni Association, the Imagine Fund, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. Thank you to all our supporters.