Writers series features author, professor
By Jaclyn Luscomb | Staff Writer
Brock Clarke, a two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award in Fiction and teacher at the University of Cincinnati, became the latest speaker in the Allen and Helen Kellogg Writers Series on Feb. 5.
Clarke has written two books and two collections of short stories and is currently working on a new novel. The author appeared in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center in Ruth Lilly Performance Hall to read excerpts from his works.
Clarke opened the series with an anecdote about his first experience with public speaking, displaying his sense of humor and a talent for satire.
His first reading was from his novel “An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers Homes in New England” about a teenager who serves time in prison for burning down a historic home and killing innocent people. The book follows the boy-turned-man home as he tries to rebuild his life.
Clarke’s second reading was from his soon-to-be released novel “Exley.” The story is about a boy dealing with his father’s coma after the war in Iraq. The boy searches for his father’s favorite author in hopes of bringing him to his dad and awakening him.
Clarke writes with a dark humor and his chapters are layered with description and imagery. He presented excerpts from his novels with easygoing and flowing speech that matched the rhythm of his writing.
Clarke explained at the reading that the leading male characters in his writings are similar because he prefers to have narrators who are unreliable and unstable.
“I prefer to have main characters that are entertaining, but from a distance; someone that would be fun to hear stories about but not necessarily to live with,” Clarke said.
Kyoko Amano, associate professor of English, organized the event.
“It can take up to a year to contact the author, get a contract, organize the event, and get the events scheduled on school calendars,” Amano said.
She said she also knows that the event is well worth the time and effort.
“Students will gain an appreciation for literature by attending events in the series,” Amano said.
Amano also found Clarke’s work something to which college students could relate.
“His first book is about a college football player,” she said. “It’s material that college students can compare to.”
The next Kellogg Writers Series event will be held on April 2, when speaker Leslie Haywood comes to campus to discuss her writings.
