Jim Tressel reading daughter's poetry at UA showcase in Merriman Valley

Jim Tressel is stepping out of his usual role as The University of Akron's vice president for student success to share another love: poetry.

Tressel plans to read works by his daughter — poet, essayist and fiction writer Carlee Tressel Alson — during "Poetry Night in the Valley" on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. at Max McQ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 1562 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron.
 
Free and open to the public, the event will showcase the creative writing program of UA's Department of English.
 
Also during the event, published authors who teach in UA's creative writing program will read their works, sign books and share tips about publishing. They include Mary Biddinger, Julie Drew, David Giffels, James Renner and Eric Wasserman.
 
Biddinger, UA associate professor of English and author of five collections of poetry, will read from "Small Enterprise," her soon-to-be published full-length collection of poems. She will be joined by UA student writers Sarah Dravec of Boardman, Nathan Kemp of Mansfield and James Phillips of Medina.
 
An editor, writer and the assistant chair of the UA Department of English, Biddinger teaches literature and creative writing with a focus on poetry. Her work has appeared in many poetry journals as well as her four books: "Prairie Fever" (2007), "Saint Monica" (2011), "O Holy Insurgency" (2013) and the upcoming "A Sunny Place with Adequate Water" (2014).
 
The event will include a meet-and-greet with the authors from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The poetry reading at 7 p.m. will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by an open mic for community poets so that attendees can share their own creative works. For more information, call 330-972-7472.
 
"I look forward to hearing Jim give voice to his daughter's poetry," said William Thelin, UA English professor and department chair.

"Poetry and writing really are for everyone," added Thelin. "Because of the vitality of our creative writing program and the strength of our faculty, The University of Akron has much to offer to aspiring writers."

Media contact: Cyndee Snider, 330-972-5196 or cyndee@uakron.edu.