Southeast Missouri State University's (SEMO) Department of English connects students and the community with nationally recognized writers through its Visiting Writer Series, held each semester. This fall, the series will welcome award-winning author Luke Rolfes to campus for a public reading of his latest novel, Sleep Lake, on Tuesday, October 7 at 6 p.m. in Catapult Creative House.
"These readings are an excellent opportunity to hear from and meet writers from across the country," said Dr. James Brubaker, associate professor of English at SEMO. "They're also a great way to engage with and build our own literary community on campus and in Cape Girardeau."
The Visiting Writer Series brings one poet and one fiction writer to campus each year, offering the Cape Girardeau region the chance to engage with diverse literary voices and perspectives. For students, the series is a cornerstone of experiential learning. Beyond the public reading, visiting authors join classes to share their writing journeys and answer questions about craft, publication and the challenges of storytelling. These conversations give students direct access to various perspectives and practical insights into building a writing life.
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"Different writers bring different experiences to the classroom," said Brubaker. "Students get to ask questions and converse with the authors about their writing processes, getting their work published, and even more complicated topics like developing themes in their writing."
Rolfes, an assistant professor of creative writing at Northwest Missouri State University, co-edits GreenTower Press and Laurel Review and serves as editor of the anthology Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors. His first two books won the Georgetown Review Press Short Story Collection Contest and the Acacia Fiction Prize, and his stories and essays appear widely in journals.
"Rolfes is an exceptional storyteller, who infuses his writing with a keen observational eye and wry humor. His stories are poignant but also funny, and always entertaining," said Brubaker.
Rolfes will be reading, answering questions and signing copies of Sleep Lake in Catapult Creative House on Tuesday, October 7 at 6 p.m. Join for an evening of storytelling and conversation, and connect with SEMO's literary community.
Students interested in turning their passion for reading, writing and storytelling into a career can learn more about SEMO's English programs at semo.edu/english.