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The English Department’s New Writing Series began their 2011 run this past week with visits from both Danielle Dutton and Holly Wilson.
The two authors are the first of several candidates vying for a position in the University of Maine English department as a fiction professor, replacing Alexander Irvine. The New Writing Series is offering a chance for students and faculty to get to know the various candidates for the new position, with the next two sessions dedicated to the prospective professors as well.
First up was Danielle Dutton on Tuesday, Feb. 15. Professor David Kress introduced Dutton, listing her several accomplishments and various adjectives describing her work, finishing with, “Accessible in the best possible way.”
When Dutton took the podium, she spoke briefly on “Dorothy,” a publishing project she serves as editor on, which focuses on unique and off-beat literary works that have a hard time finding publication.
“We want to publish books that, whether conventional or un-, are uniquely themselves, that do not lean against preconceived ideas of what is wonderful, but brilliantly and purposefully convince us that they are, themselves, wonderful,” reads the group’s statement online at dorothyproject.com.
This sentiment describes Dutton’s work as well, which ranged from stylistic collages to breathless narratives. Dutton read a short excerpt from each of her works, beginning with “Attempts at a Life,” a collection of short prose pieces that highlight the hyper-observational.
This trend segued nicely into her next piece, a re-evaluation of Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre.” Written after she completed her Master of Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago, Dutton took a second glance at her favorite childhood book.
Surprised to see Jane as a completely different character than how she remembered, she was inspired to write an alternate version of the story.
From there she moved on to “SPRAWL,” a novel written as a single paragraph. Her first publication was a collection of short bursts of narrative energy, and here Dutton counters that with a long sprawling narrative with little breathing room and an addictive nature.
During the question-and-answer session, Dutton recounted a reader claiming to have read the book in one sitting, since there were no breaks or indicators of a safe place to stop. As she read quickly and pointedly, one could certainly see how this could be a problem, albeit a delightful one.
In her final reading, Dutton shared segments of her upcoming piece, a novel working with the life of Margaret Cavendish, the 17th-century poet, essayist and playwright. This is the first of Dutton’s output to have factual material to wrangle, and Dutton has already reworked and rewritten several attempts of what sounds like a very ambitious project.
Dutton’s work eschews the snooty, “trying-too-hard-for-its-own-good” feel most contemporary fiction writers reek of. It balances well thought out ideas with interesting flourishes, creating work that is intriguing in the best possible way.
It’s hard to put your finger on what makes it so engrossing. It is better simply to share her work with others rather than try to describe it.
The New Writing Series resumed Thursday, Feb. 19 when Holly Wilson came to visit. Wilson’s work can most recently be found published in “New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best, 2009,” “Narrative Magazine” and “Redivider.”
She spoke briefly of her first novel, which is still being written, describing the adventure story as a cross between “Huck Finn,” “Frankenstein” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Marred by a case of laryngitis, Wilson read briefly to a sympathetic crowd before graduate student Katie Lattari took over.
Wilson is currently finishing her doctorate at Florida State University, a far cry from her home state of Kansas, where she also earned her MFA.
Wilson’s selected reading came from a reaction to the “core southern values” that now encircle her, telling of a college girl with Tourette’s syndrome, looking to fit in with sorority life and make the best of her college years.
Wilson works with stark, unflinchingly honest images and language. She provides a gripping protagonist and a colorful, achingly believable world filled to the brim with dark humor.
Wilson took the podium once more as the reading ended, trying gallantly to provide answers despite the ever-diminishing returns her voice could allow. When asked about her tendency to wrap aggressive material in jovial paper, Wilson claimed to enjoy toying with her readers: “Set ‘em up for a laugh, and then punch ‘em.”
Something that sticks out in her writing is real-world product placement, with mentions of Victoria’s Secret, Arby’s and other mall culture touchstones. While some authors run the risk of citing things that could eventually become dated, Wilson defended her choice.
“It’s part of my life,” she said. “I can’t be too concerned with future readers. I’m concerned with readers now, and publishing now, and it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
The honesty and gusto on hand were quite refreshing. With two in the tank and plenty ahead, the New Writing Series is off to a good start.
The Series will continue today in Soderberg Auditorium with Matthew Kirkpatrick, as the hunt for a new fiction professor continues. The reading begins at 4:30 p.m. seating is free, free though space is limited.
Bangor Daily News