Six Portland writers will discuss the successes and challenges of the creative life as part of the Professional Writers Series at Washington State University Vancouver, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., beginning Feb. 3.
The free presentations are from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays between Feb. 3 and April 21 in Room 240 of the campus library. An opening reception begins at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Writing Center, room 203 at the library.
Parking is available at meters and in the Blue Daily Pay Lot for $1.50 after 5 p.m. Parking is free after 7 p.m.
The six writers have published in a range of genres, from literary novels to thrillers, biographies to poetry. The series provides insights into the writing process and the ways authors interact both creatively and commercially with other writers, editors, publishers and designers.
• Feb. 3: Tom Spanbauer on “Dangerous Writing.” Spanbauer is the founder and creative force behind Dangerous Writing, a workshop whose alumni include Cheryl Strayed, Chuck Palahniuk and Chelsea Cain. He is the author of five novels. His latest, “I Loved You More” (2014), explores the relationships in a love triangle over 25 years.
• Feb. 17: Molly Gloss on “Reinventing the Western.” Gloss is the best-selling author of award-winning books including “The Jump-Off Creek” (1989) and “Wild Life” (2000). Novelist Kent Haruf said she has “a permanent place on the shelf of American literature which features tough, smart, independent women.”
• March 3: Chelsea Cain on “Writing Killer Fiction.” Cain sets her thrillers in Portland. Described by the New York Times as “steamy and perverse,” her mysteries pit detective Archie Sheridan against serial killer Gretchen Lowell. Her latest book, “One Kick” (2014), introduces her Kick Lannigan series.
• March 24: Kevin Sampsell on “Writing Across Genres.” Sampsell is editor of “Portland Noir,” publisher of Future Tense Books and author of a short-story collection and a memoir. His work has been included in “Best Sex Writing 2012” and “Best American Essays 2013.”
• April 7: Martha Grover on “The Modern Memoir.” The San Francisco Weekly commended Grover’s memoir, “One More for the People,” for staking out “new territory between talk, journal, memoir and essays.” For 10 years, she has been publisher and principal writer and illustrator for her printzine, “Somnambulist.”
• April 21: Shawn Levy on “Literature and Legends.” The former film critic for The Oregonian, Levy most recently published an acclaimed biography of Robert De Niro, “De Niro: A Life” (2014). He has written books and articles about film, pop culture, books and sports for The New York Times and more.
