Some exciting news to share: this fall, I’ll be joining the creative writing faculty at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. As some of you know, this type of teaching and mentoring position has been a long-time dream for me, and I’m especially excited to be part of such a growing and dynamic graduate and undergraduate program.
As a family, we’re sad to be leaving Morris, a place where we learned so many good lessons about community, where we’ve made many lifelong friends, and which has been an incredible place to raise our sons.
We’ll miss Minnesota, a state where I’ve felt supported as a writer beyond my wildest dreams.
We will not miss Minnesota winters.

Looking forward to learning more about Florida and Orlando’s literary communities!

 

Feeling some serious gratitude for “old” students!

Woke up to a message a few days ago from the incredible, unstoppable Joshua P. Preston: “I’ll be participating in the University of Minnesota Libraries Poetry Live! Series, reading Robert Bly’s “Gratitude to Old Teachers” — followed by the work of, well, two of my teachers, Chrissy Kolaya and James Lenfestey. Tune in!”

And now you can! With thanks and admiration to Josh, Jennifer Shaw-Spence, Kate Hujda, Cecily Marcus, and the whole Poetry Live project! 

Belatedly sharing some pics of the fantastic poetry students I’ve gotten to work with this year as a Writer in the School at Morris Area High School.

Thanks so much to the  Morris Area Arts Boosters for making this possible, to Ms. Moulton for welcoming me into her classroom, and to these incredible students, who rolled with every crazy activity I brought into class, from Frank O’Hara-inspired Mad Libs to Centos and Exquisite Corpses!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Generous mentorship has so often kept me afloat as I navigated making a life as a writer, so here’s to paying it forward!

Excited to be serving as a mentor for the Dzanc Books Creative Writing Mentorship Program, along with a whole bunch of talented folks.

The program launches today: check it out!

All mentors donate our time: proceeds from the mentorship fee support the Dzanc Writer in Residence Program, committed to increasing literacy and the literary arts in public schools.

#teamdzanc!

Chicago-area friends, join me on Tuesday, January 2, 6:30 p.m. to kick off the  new year at Curbside Books & Records! I’ll be reading with the wildly talented Christine Sneed.

Don’t know about Curbside Books & Records yet? Check out how great they are: “We seek to facilitate the discovery of independent literature and challenge the traditional understanding of literature’s function in our world. As lovers of music, we seek to support the local musicians and labels that we listen to and love. We also aim to enhance the literary community in Chicago’s South Loop by hosting discussions, readings, and pop-up events. We invite you to browse our store, sit down with a book, and read on.”

Tuesday, January 2, 2018, 6:30 p.m.  at Curbside Books & Records in the Revival Food Hall, 125 S Clark St, Chicago.

More info here!

 

 

 

Open Mic, Work in Progress Reading, and Q&A with novelist and poet Chrissy Kolaya

She’ll be reading work in progress from her novel The Second Voyage of Audley Worthington, a project supported by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Come early for the open mic and share your own creative work in progress!

Open Mic: 7-7:30 ~ All Ages Welcome!

Reading and Q&A: 7:30 p.m.

Chrissy Kolaya is a fiscal year 2017 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1194735597325811/

 

 

A great day of writing with kids from the Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance‘s Prairie Arts Camp. Inspired by a recent Kiese Laymon Facebook post, we wrote about things we used to think.

 

Third Meeting: Writers, Writers Everywhere!

This week, we wrote about doppelgängers, disco dancing in the 1980s, eating apples, some “Flash” fan fiction, and space cats! Check out pieces below by Sawyer, Oliver, Mija, and Parker!

Second Meeting

Our Second Meeting of the Creative Writing Club for Kids and Teens was super fun! We wrote about the future, prophecies, giant kittens, and Louis wow-ed us, as always, with his spectacular fashion choices (check out that blazer and fur hat!). Pieces below by Oliver and Roberto:

First Meeting!

This summer, I’m hosting a free creative writing club for kids and teens at the Morris Public Library. We had our first fantastic, fun, and silly meeting today! Thanks to Anne Hennen Barber and the Morris Public Library for hosting us! I’ll be updating this site after each meeting with some photos and pieces the club members are excited to share with the world!

We imagined our dream summers, shared the epic tales of the “not-to-smart man” and some farting cats, and learned that some of our club members do NOT like spicy burritos! Check out work by Rowan, Ellis, and Parker!

Thanks to Brian O’Keefe at WDCB for airing this piece again today in celebration of Fermilab‘s 50^th anniversary. Click here to listen.

 

 

MN friends, join us Saturday and Sunday for a super New London weekend of literary fun! Grab a Goat Ridge (root) beer and check out the fantastic new Flyleaf Book Shop:

Saturday, June 24: the New London Story Show, 3 p.m. Goat Ridge Brewery, $10

Sunday, June 25: Reading & Book Talk by Chrissy Kolaya followed by an Open Mic for All Ages, 3 p.m. Goat Ridge Brewery, FREE! Kids welcome and encouraged! Bring a story or poem to share, or write something while you sip on a Goat Ridge Root Beer! We’ll have prompts and things to write with should the inspiration strike! Note: getting up to the mic is not a requirement!