James Harms, WVU professor of English in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, will read at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the Gold Ballroom of the Mountainlair from his recenly published collections of poetry, “Comet Scar” and “What to Borrow, What to Steal.” The reading is free and open to the public.
“Jim Harms is one of the most highly regarded poets in the country,” said Mark Brazaitis, an associate professor of English and the director of the university’s creative writing program. “That he happens to be a professor at WVU is our good fortune. His poems are beautiful, thoughtful, and intricate. To hear him read them aloud will be a real treat.”
“Comet Scar” was published by Carnegie Mellon University Press, which also published five of Harms’ previous books: “After West” (2008), “Freeways and Aqueducts” (2004), “Quarters” (2001), “The Joy Addict” (1998) and “Modern Ocean” (1992). “What to Borrow, What to Steal” was just released by Marick Press. A limited edition collection, “East of Avalon” (2000), was published by Caddis Case Press.
Harms, founder and former director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing, joined the WVU faculty in 1994 after receiving his Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University. Harms also directed the West Virginia Writers’ Workshop for many years. His poems, essays and short stories have appeared in prestigious literary journals such as “Poetry”, “The Kenyon Review,” “The Antioch Review,” “Denver Quarterly,” “The Gettysburg Review,” “TriQuarterly,” “Ploughshares,” “The American Poetry Review,” “Verse,” “The North American Review,” and “Oxford American.” He is a contributing editor of “West Branch.”
Harms has been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Creative Writing, the PEN/Revson Fellowship, fellowships from the West Virginia and Pennsylvania Arts commissions, and three Pushcart Prizes. Since arriving at WVU, he has been named a Benedum Distinguished Scholar, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Researcher, and the Carnegie Foundation/CASE United States Teacher of the Year for West Virginia. He has also received the Caperton Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Writing.
Harms’ reading will be followed by a book signing.
For more information, contact Mark Brazaitis, director of creative writing, at (304) 293-9707 or Mark.Brazaitis@mail.wvu.edu.