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VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University’s annual Professional Writers Series opens Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. The first of six lectures—all free and open to the public—will feature the Pander Brothers talking about their graphic novels. The lecture series takes place on campus in the Multimedia Classroom Building, Room 6.

The six lectures, scheduled between Jan. 28 and April 14, will focus on a variety of genres, from graphic novels to film criticism, mysteries, memoirs, essays and poetry. The writers will speak about the trajectory of their careers, their successes and challenges.

The 2016 Professional Writers Series features the following:

Jan. 28: The Pander Brothers, “Edgy Media—The Graphic Novel”

Graphic artists and filmmakers, Jacob and Arnold Pander helped launch the independent comics revolution while still in their teens. To date they have produced 65 works with such major publishers as Marvel, DC Comics and Dark Horse. They have been nominated for the Eisner and Manning awards for groundbreaking artwork in the comics medium. In 2015 they launched their own digital comics imprint, FUSE Comics.

Feb. 11: Steven Rea, “What Makes Hollywood Hip?”

As movie critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer for more than 20 years, Steven Rea covers the industry both nationally and internationally. He is also the author of “Hollywood Rides a Bike—Cycling with the Stars” and the forthcoming “Hollywood Café—Coffee with the Stars.” He has also written for such publications as Entertainment Weekly, High Fidelity and the Paris Review.

Feb. 25: Phillip Margolin, “The Legal Thriller”

Margolin is both a criminal defense attorney and a New York Times bestselling author with more than a dozen courtroom thrillers to his credit, some of which have been adapted for television. His latest, “Violent Crimes,” will be published in February. His work has been recognized by Best American Mystery Stories, the Literary Guild, Book of the Month Club and the Mystery Writers of America.

March 10: Judith Barrington, “The Art of the Memoir”

Judith Barrington’s memoir “Lifesaving” won the Lambda Book Award and was a finalist for the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for the Art of the Memoir. She is also the author of a guide to the craft, “Writing the Memoir.” Her work has been featured in numerous magazines, including Creative Nonfiction, Prairie Schooner and the Kenyon Review, and she has taught writing at several universities and summer workshops.

March 24: Sallie Tisdale, “Hello World: The Personal Essay”

Sallie Tisdale’s seven books include “Talk Dirty to Me: An Intimate Philosophy of Sex” and the forthcoming “Violation: Collected Essays,” described as “a fascinating look at the epic wanderings of a life mapped by curiosity.” Her many awards include the Pushcart Prize and an NEA Fellowship, and her writing credits range from The New Yorker to Vogue and Tin House. Tisdale was a judge for the National Book Award in 2010.

April 14: Zarah Moeggenberg, “Poetry and the Spoken Word”

Currently a doctoral student in rhetoric at WSU in Pullman, Zarah Moeggenberg is a spoken word poet who has been published in The Fourth River, Oklahoma Review, Diverse Voices Quarterly and many others. Her first book of poetry, “To Waltz on a Pin,” was published in 2015. Moeggenberg earned an M.F.A. in poetry from Northern Michigan University.

About �鶹��ý

�鶹��ý is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver, east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Parking is available at meters and in the Blue Daily pay lot for $1.50 after 5 p.m. Parking is free after 7 p.m.

As one of four campuses of the Washington State University system, �鶹��ý offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. The university offers affordable baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities it serves. As the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington, �鶹��ý helps drive economic growth through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations.

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MEDIA CONTACT(S)

Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu
Howard Aaron, Series Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences, 503-816-2742