Alabama Writers Read in Memphis To Raise Money for Tuscaloosa’s Recovery

"Tuscaloosa Ink: Alabama Writers in Memphis": Writers from the University of Alabama's Creative Writing program will be in Memphis reading from recent work at a benefit event raising money for victims of the tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa this past April.

"Tuscaloosa Ink: Alabama Writers in Memphis" will take place at First Congo (First Congregational Church at 1000 S. Cooper) on Thursday, June 23 at 7 p.m. The evening's lineup will feature University of Alabama professor Michael Martone, author of Fort Wayne is Seventh on Hitler's List, along with former and current students from Alabama's MFA programs.

While Tuscaloosa is most widely known for competitiveness in sports, Alabama's Creative Writing MFA program is now ranked 17th in the nation, according to Poets & Writers' 2011 annual survey. As graduate teaching fellows, students in the program typically teach core curriculum writing and literature classes to undergraduates.

Among the writers confirmed for "Tuscaloosa Ink" is Barrett Hathcock (UA MFA ’04), recent Visiting Assistant Professor at Rhodes College whose first collection of short stories, The Portable Son, will be released by Aqueous Books later this year.

The poster for the event was designed and printed by Friedrich Kerksieck, a 2009 graduate of Alabama's Books Arts MFA program who now operates his own printing studio in Memphis. Copies of the poster will be on sale at the event.

The evening will also include a silent auction featuring signed work by notable Alabama authors such as Mark Childress (Crazy in Alabama), Warren St. John (Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer), cartoonist Howard Cruse (Stuck Rubber Baby) and other items, including a gift subscription to Alabama Heritage magazine.

Admission to the event is $10, with proceeds going to the University of Alabama's Acts of Kindness fund to assist students, faculty and staff affected by the tornado. The event is co-sponsored by Bama on the Bluff (Alabama Alumni Association, Memphis Chapter).

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/tuscaloosaink, or contact Bard Cole (UA MFA 2005) at (901) 337-1695 or email tuscaloosaink@gmail.com.

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