The 2025 Kellogg Writers Series lineup at the University of Indianapolis includes Christian Moody, Kayleb Rae Candrilli, Christina Thatcher and Abigail Perry. Means performed “Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways” on September 11.
Associate Professor of English and Chair of KWS Barney Haney highlighted the students who run the class alongside him. Haney said senior English student Piper Parks is beyond getting credit for the class but continues for the experience and love of it.
Moody will visit campus on Nov. 20 to read from his short story collection, “Lost in the Forest of Mechanical Birds,” which won the Dzanc Books Short Story Collections Prize. The event will be held in UIndy Hall A in the Schwitzer Student Center and is open to the public. Moody is well-versed in the sphere of literature, holding a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati, according to Haney.
“He’s an amazing writer, and his debut collection is fantastic,” Haney said.
Each event will hold a book raffle, which started as an incentive to get people to come to the events, according to Haney. He added attendance is not the draw, but the raffles are just a part of the experience.
“It feels good to give out books,” Haney said. “There’s so much excitement when people get one. It’s a funny thing.”
KWS has had a considerable impact on the Indianapolis and UIndy community, according to Haney. He added that KWS has been overall a great experience for writers, audiences and the school.
“We’ve had moments where it has been absolutely beautiful,” Haney said. “It was an impact for the writers that were up here, the greater Indianapolis community and everyone that was involved with it.”
Senior English and History major Madison Riley reflected on the same topic. Riley said that seeing authors from Indiana perform at her school is a deeply impactful experience.
“We’ve had authors tell us that this is the most interesting event that they’ve done,” Riley says, “We’ve had a lot of people say they really enjoy coming to UIndy, which is always awesome.”
Haney said KWS is a one credit hour class open for all majors to attend and wanted to highlight the contributions made by students in the class, including grad students Ben Redar and Molly Brubaker, and undergrads Ki Trahin, Madison Riley, and Olivia McCartney-King, Mary Cowden, Sarah Tiffany and Leslie West. Candrilli will come to UIndy on Feb. 26, and Thatcher and Perry on April 7.
