One of literature's most prolific writers will be appearing today on The University of Memphis campus.
Robert Bausch, a renowned author of fiction, will be conducting a writer's workshop and a reading from his latest novel as part of The River City Writer's Series.
The series, sponsored by The University's English department and other groups, brings in some of the nation's best writers to give readings of their work and offer students the chance to discuss various literary topics with the authors. In some cases students will have some of their work critiqued by the author themselves.
Bausch has written several fiction novels, such as "On the Way Home," "Almighty Me!," "The Lives of Riley Chance" and "A Hole in the Earth," which was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and a Washington Post Book World Favorite Book of the Year.
Bausch will conduct a writer's workshop at 10:30 a.m. and a reading from his latest book, "Out of Season," at 3:00 p.m.
Both the reading and workshop will take place in Patterson Hall, rooms 456 and 403, respectively.
"Out of Season" tells the tale of a struggling family.
"It's a story of how a family was torn apart and how they came back together," Bausch said.
Writing has played a prominent role in Bausch's life since a very young age. He wrote his first novel in the eighth grade, but it was not published.
Bausch said he got his inspiration for writing by listening to his mother and father read to him as a child and by listening to the radio.
Bausch's twin brother, Richard, is a noted author as well, having written 16 volumes of fiction and holds a position here on campus.
Bausch is the Moss Chair of Excellence in the English department.
Bausch said there is no sibling rivalry between the two of them. He said it would take an extreme circumstance in order for a competition to take place.
"If somebody put us in a room and told us we had an hour to write a short story, maybe we'd compete that way," he said.
With them being related, one would think that he and Richard have collaborated on several literary works, but Bausch said just the opposite.
"It's never occurred to us," he said.
In fact, neither one of them reads each other's work before the public does.
"I don't see his work until it's published, and he doesn't see my work until it's published," he said.
C.D. Mitchell, assistant editor for River City, an English department sponsored literary magazine, said Bausch's visit presents an invaluable experience for young writers.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for the writers he'll be work shopping for," he said. "It gives them the opportunity to be critiqued by an award-winning writer."
Mitchell said the series tries to invite multi-skilled individuals in order to better enhance the students.
"The authors we bring in are writers and teachers," he said. "We take advantage of these skills by allowing them to read and conduct a work shop."
Ben Jenkins, fiction editor for River City and a master of fine arts student, said Bausch's visit only adds to the excitement he has for the series and he hopes more students will take advantage.
"I hope others will come to see the world-class writers we're pulling in," he said.
Bausch said it is important to spend time with aspiring writers to continue to build upon the practice of writing literature because it is part of the human experience.
"Literature is the story of the inner life of human beings," he said.
