The Virginia G. Piper
Center for Creative Writing

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The Distinguished Visiting Writers Series

Author talks and readings from some of the strongest voices in contemporary literature

Every year, the Distinguished Visiting Writer Series brings nationally and internationally recognized authors to the Phoenix metropolitan area for talks and readings, connecting local communities with the national scene.

Events take place throughout the Valley and are open to the public and free unless otherwise noted.

To learn more about the series, you can select a visiting writer event from the list below. For more events, you can view all upcoming events. 

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Upcoming Visiting Writers

Eyes Bottle Dark with a Mouthful of Flowers
Jake Skeets
Date: Friday, October 4, 2019 - 6:30pm
Location: Palabras Bilingual Bookstore, 1738 E McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85006
Genre & Forms: Indigenous Studies, Poetry
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Join the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing for a poetry reading with Jake Skeets on first Friday, October 4, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore (1738 E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006),

While encouraged, RSVPs are purely for the purposes of monitoring attendance, gauging interest, and communicating information about parking, directions, and other aspects of the event. You do not have to register or RSVP to attend this event. This event is open to the public and free.

Inspiring Radical Creativity
Gabby Rivera
Date: Friday, October 18, 2019 - 6:30pm
Location: Burton Barr Central Library, Pulliam Auditorium, 1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Genre & Forms: Community, Creative Practice, Human Rights, Latinx Studies, LGBTQIA Studies, Social Justice
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To Gabby Rivera, it’s vital to encourage people of all backgrounds to create, daydream, and tell their own stories—and in so doing, open a radical space for creativity. Now, in this affecting talk, Rivera unpacks how she navigates the world as a queer, Latinx, millennial woman; how she incorporates her heritage into her writing; how she strives to be a thoughtful ally for others, and how she celebrates the healing power of community. This is a talk about privilege and power, and what we can do to support the ideas of diverse artists working with progressive politics.

Tracing the Horse and Eminent Domain
Diana Marie Delgado, Justin Petropoulos
Date: Friday, October 25, 2019 - 6:00pm
Location: Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283
Genre & Forms: Hybrid, Poetry
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Join the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing for a poetry reading with Diana Marie Delgado and Justin Petropoulos on Friday, October 25, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Changing Hands Tempe (6428 South McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283)

An Evening with R. L. Stine
R. L. Stine
Date: Friday, November 1, 2019 - 6:30pm
Location: Burton Barr Central Library, 2nd Floor, 1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Genre & Forms: Fiction, Genre Fiction, Horror, Middle Grade, Young Adult Literature
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Before there was J. K. Rowling, before there was Stephanie Meyer or Suzanne Collins, there was R.L. Stine. Witty, creepy, and compulsively readable: his books defined horror for a generation of young readers— readers who have now come of age. As recognized by USA Today, R.L. Stine was the best-selling author in America for three years in a row (1993- 95). The Guinness Book of World Records cited him as the best-selling series author in history.