The USU Eastern Library and Learning Commons welcomed many to the Sixth Annual Local Authors Night hosted on Tuesday evening. This event featured two local poets.
Nancy Takacs is the winner of the Juniper Prize for her book of poems entitled “The Worrier.” She has also written more poetry as well as several chapbooks. Takacs spent time upon retiring teaching poetry to prison inmates in Gunnison and is also a former literature instructor at the university.
The second poet highlighted was Jan Minich. Minich’s most recent works was deemed “Wild Roses: Poems.” This work follows the lives of Utah outlaw women in history as well as many other historical female characters. Minich, like Takacs, has several other works published as well as also teaching previously at the university.
Takacs and Minich each took time to read a number of their poems to the crowd before opening the floor for a question and answer segment. Closing remarks preceded the serving of refreshments and a chance to purchase the authors’ works to have them signed.
The local authors’ collection was started in 2013 at the USUE Library and Learning Commons once it was realized that the works of local authors was not actively being collected. For six years, the collection has grown and currently boasts over 100 titles that are written by local authors.
Local authors may contact Sherill Shaw at (435) 613-5208 or stop by the USUE Library and Learning Commons for the chance to donate their works or have them purchased.
