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Author Edwidge Danticat Visits Bryn Mawr as Part of Reading Series

October 27, 2016 by Cathy Campo
Edwidge Danticat

Acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat visited campus on Wednesday, Oct. 26, as part of Bryn Mawr's Reading Series to read from her work, sign books, and answer questions.

Prior to her reading in Goodhart Hall, more than 30 students packed into the English House lecture hall where Danticat took part in a Q+A hosted by Director of the Creative Writing Program Daniel Torday.

Among the topics that Danticat discussed was how her writing process has developed over the years. She touched on her time as an undergrad at Barnard when she would often turn to writing at a means of procrastination, recalling that much of her writing occurred just before finals.

"But you need to catch those moments, whether or not they come at inconvenient times,” said Danicat. “You can't miss them."

After college, Danicat would go on to become a "binge-writer," writing for incredibly long stretches of time. Now a mother of two daughters, Danicat said she’s had to adapt to being an author who "writes when she can," given her busy schedule.

Other topics covered during the Q+A included the financial hardships often faced by writers; how Danticat likes to write about moments in history that are often overlooked; and the unique process of writing a short story collection, such as The Dew Breaker, which was completed over the span of 14 years.

"I found the Q+A with Danticat informative not just about the writing process, but also the politics that she writes around when crafting her novels," said Cat Woodrow '17.

Danticat's upcoming piece is a nonfiction work for writers about constructing the "art of death." It will be available in July.

The Reading Series continues on Nov. 30 when poet Carl Phillips visits campus. For more information, visit the Reading Series webpage.

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