Since its inception in 1987, the NYS Summer Writers Institute has attracted award-winning writers and enthusiastic audiences to its summer home at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. The pandemic cancelled last summer's program, but we're delighted to announce a new virtual Summer Writers series starting today.
Public readings will be offered at 7 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm from June 28 through July 22. Attend the readings using this Zoom link. Registration is not required.
Monday, June 28:
Poet Campbell McGrath (American Noise) and novelist Elizabeth Benedict (The Practice of Deceit)
Tuesday, June 29:
A conversation with novelist Claire Messud (The Woman Upstairs, The Emperor’s Children) and literary critic and novelist James Wood (The New Yorker, The New Republic, The Guardian)
Thursday, July 1:
Poet Gregory Pardlo (Pulitzer Prize, Digest) and memoirist Phillip Lopate (Getting Personal)
Students participating in the NYS Summer Writers Institute will offer readings of their own work Wednesdays June 30, July 7, 14 and 21.
The NYS Summer Writers Institute was founded and is still produced by author and professor Robert Boyers at Skidmore College with sponsorship from the New York State Writers Institute and Northshire Bookstores. Previous visiting writers include Louise Glück, Mary Gordon, Tom Healy, Margo Jefferson, William Kennedy, Binnie Kirshenbaum, John McWhorter, James Miller, Michael Ondaatje, Caryl Phillips, Robert Pinsky, Katha Pollitt, Francine Prose and Victoria Redel.