I must speak about the evening before day three before I gush over the last day of the Literature Festival. The evening on day two consisted of two readings, the first by Brian Doyle and the second was more of a concert reading from Robert Pinski. I was shaken to my core in different ways by both these men.
   Brian Doyle was all over the place before his introduction. He walked around the auditorium speaking with both fans and colleagues. The speaker introducing him happened to be in the seat beside of me, the head of the creative writing department. This man stood behind the lectern and shared some of his thoughts and personal favorite writings by Mr. Doyle. I waited for Brian to take his place behind the lectern but he chose to walk around the room and into the aisles while speaking.
   Brian Doyle shared many stories of his life,career and faith. He told us that our writing shouldn't be about us saying, "It's not about you". He told us to always be typing, take notes and run to the computer and type away as soon as you can. Brian gave us all an assignment that night. He told us to read an essay he had handed out before he spoke before midnight, then make ten copies and pass them along with that same assignment. This was the story of Dawn and Mary. These were two women who put their lives down for the children at Sandy Hook Elementary. Brian used this to reinforce his earlier comment not writing just for yourself. I like the way he gave merit to his comment by using a story that shows the finest qualities in human beings in the face of certain death.
   Robert Pinski was quite different from the other guest speakers. He has taken his poetry and infused it with a jazzy kind of music. I was amazed by the live performance of poetry mixed with music. I had never witnessed this type of performance and was overwhelmed by his skill. At one point he read a poem and then performed it to demonstrate the difference. This was particularly enjoyable as I believe that he illustrated perfectly that written form can take on many different forms.

   The second day of Lit Fest began with a brief orientation of our surroundings by Dr. Haugen. I couldn't help but feel inspired by the architecture and stories Dr. Haugen shared about her time spent on the campus. We finished our walk by returning to the Baker building and finding seats for the lectures by Dorothy Allison and Charles Johnson.

   I don't know what I was expecting on my way to the 30th Annual Literature Festival held on the Athens Campus. There was some apprehension built up when I thought about meeting some giants in the field of literature, as well as much excitement. Riding with a colleague, Jessica, we conversed about ideas both small and grand on our way to that campus on a hill. Upon arriving, Dr. Haugen and Olivia made room for Jess and myself as we rode for a quick dinner before the first speakers took their places behind that seasoned lectern. As with most meals the conversation was far more satisfying than the actual food. We all arrived in the auditorium shortly before the first speaker took her place after a brief introduction.  
   The first event was a reading by Dorothy Allison. I listened eagerly as she began to speak. To hear Dorothy speak is like listening to hymn of sharp reality. With out apology she cuts swiftly through flowery language and etiquette and delivers words drawn from a life full of accomplishment and experience. She shared a chapter from a current book she is working on, introducing us all to a "wicked woman" who is dealing with a world of problems. Dorothy explained that when writing, each chapter should be a short story. Your chapters should be a story within themselves. What I remember the most about this first appearance is Dorothy telling the writers to grab a hold of that rage inside. She called us all her baby writers and told us we owed her a story, and I will do my best to honor her command.
   After a brief break between speakers, Marie Howe took the stage for the second event. Marie read from some of her newer works and a very successful previous collection of poems called What the Living Do. While Marie left most of her lecture material for her later appearance, she was visibly emotional as she shared about the loss of her brother. This is the dominating theme of the work What the Living Do. What seemed like conversation was actually her reading the poems. She seamlessly transitioned between her set up and executions so that the audience was never quite sure when she was done reading. I was taken by her delivery into that world where her brother lived in her heart. I felt him there when the pain of their childhood crept into the air of that auditorium, willed into existence by her words. I suffered a small portion of her pain as she painted a life slowly leaving the plane of the living with each poem. Marie crafted a window into her world and let us come through it slowly with each poem until we were standing alongside her. What made the experience so real is the way Marie was able to tell a story with each piece she shared.
   The first evening of Lit Fest was a perfect introduction for an amazing set of experiences. Each writer was given a chance to hear the authors express their works as no one else can. Through their voices we were shown how words can be given life. The next two days would only serve to add to the amazing performances given that fist evening.