On a usual day Mead Hall is quiet. But on Thursday Feb. 16, the Founders Room in Mead Hall had three professors share their work as part of the Writers@Drew series, co-sponsored by the English Department and The Casement Fund.
Around 40 people came to hear Courtney Zoffness, Cam Terwilliger and Nathan McClain read their work. Terwilliger and McClain just started teaching here at Drew this year. Zoffness is the co-director of the creative writing program at Drew. Zoffness and Terwilliger teach fiction and nonfiction workshops while McClain teaches poetry workshops. Associate Professor of English Patrick Phillips, who teaches poetry and co-directs of the creative writing program, introduced the authors.
Terwilliger read part of his historical novel set in New York and Quebec around the 1750s. The novel’s working title is “Yet Wilderness Grew in My Heart.” McClain read a few short poems from his recently published book “Scales.” Zoffness read some of her original work as well. After all the professors read, Phillips opened up the platform for questions from the audience.
When asked about how the writers get past writer’s block, Zoffness said, “Sometimes it’s a character or line of language.” Terwilliger added, “The workshop model makes you your inner editor.” McClain said, “It’s fantastic to have trusted readers.”
Students appreciated seeing the professors reading their work. Megan Luster (’17), an English major, said, “I really liked hearing the faculty present their own work.”
The event is part of an ongoing series. The next two readings are March 16 and March 20.
