LITERATURE + LECTURES

Houstonians, however, have the benefit of hearing works straight from the writers' mouths during the monthly Gulf Coast Reading Series. During its 2010-2011 season, the series will introduce Houstonians to 21 talented students from UH's acclaimed Creative Writing Program. All readings are free and presented at Brazos Bookstore.

Gulf Coast, a biannual journal featuring innovative fiction for the literary-minded, presents this reading series, bringing writers from the University of Houston Creative Writing Program to the ears of our city. Through the University of Houston's literary journal Gulf Coast, audiences around the world can experience the poetry and fiction of emerging authors.

"The Gulf Coast Reading Series offers residents an opportunity to hear some of the best young writers read their work," said J. Kastely, director of the UH Creative Writing Program. "The series takes place in an intimate setting, and it is fun to be part of the audience. It epitomizes what a literary community can be."

All readings are free and open to the public and begin at 7 p.m. at Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005.  

February 11, 2011: Chuck Carlise, Ryler Dustin, Quincy Flowers

Chuck Carlise was born in Canton, Ohio, on the first Flag Day of the Jimmy Carter Era. His poems and essays appear in Southern Review, Pleiades, DIAGRAM, Quarterly West, Beloit Poetry Journal, HaydenÕs Ferry, Southeast Review, and others. He came to UH via Wittenberg University and UC-Davis (among many other places), and is currently is a 4th year PhD candidate in Poetry, and a former Non-Fiction Editor of Gulf Coast.

Ryler Dustin has performed on the final stages of the National and Individual World Poetry Slams and has toured across the U.S. performing his work and teaching writing workshops. After helping to found the Basement Poetry Series in his hometown, he served as Associate Editor to Jeopardy Magazine and moved to Houston, where he's spent the last couple of years learning from his friends. His Pushcart-Prize-nominated work appears in the collection Heavy Lead Birdsong, released from WriteBloody.

Quincy Flowers received a MA degree in American Literature from NYU, where he was a New York Times Fellow and recipient of the Ludwig Vogelstein Award for fiction. He is a fourth year PhD student in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Houston and currently at work on his first novel.