The Appalachian Writers Series, presented by the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program, will host a poetry reading by Frank X. Walker from his collection “Load In Nine Times” on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Laughlin Music Hall Welker Room. 

This event’s co-sponsors include the International Poetry Forum, the Center for African American Poetry at the University of Pittsburgh, Chatham University Office of ODEI, the Chatham Creative Writing Club and the Women’s Institute.

Assistant Professor of Creative Writing David Blackmore proposed the Appalachian Writers Series last academic year as he prepared to teach the Appalachian Literature class in the spring 2025 term.

“As we were coming up on teaching the Appalachian Literature class, then, I thought this would be a really great opportunity to kind of have a more coherent series. And also because it’s a really exciting time in Appalachian literature,” he said. “There’s a lot going on, especially in Northern Appalachian literature which historically didn’t get that much attention.”

MFA Program Director Sheila Squillante was thrilled about the idea, and the two professors have led the effort since the inaugural term. Additionally, students in the Appalachian Literature class contributed to the planning, promotion and production of the event series.

Chatham’s MFA in creative writing program has a long tradition of having students introduce guest speakers and writers who come to campus to read their work. This aims to inspire students to learn from and connect with successful writers along similar paths. Blackmore noted his favorite part of the events is seeing students introduce writers and the Q&A period after the reading. 

“I love watching the students see these writers that they read, that they have so much respect for,” Blackmore said.

The Appalachian Writers Series hosted its first event of the term on Sept. 4, 2025, featuring program alumnae Laura Jackson and Amanda Jaros.

Rowen Slepian, a first-year MFA in creative writing student, learned of the series during his program orientation. He and his peers attended the Sept. 4 event, where Slepian, a Philadelphia native with little experience with Appalachian literature, explored this regional literary niche.

“I think [the series] is a really great opportunity to experience more types of writing than I feel like I would on my own,” Slepian said.

Slepian hopes to see more fiction writers read their work. He plans to attend future events in the Appalachian Writers Series and has already perused the work of upcoming guest poet, Walker. 

Blackmore emphasized the diversity of Appalachian literature and his commitment to uplifting writers of various backgrounds, identities and perspectives. There is also an effort to feature a mix of notable figures in the field as well as up-and-coming local writers.

“When we conceptualized the series, we really wanted to do a mix of big names and then we also wanted to mix in writers with their first books,” Blackmore said.

The Chatham arboretum on the Shadyside campus is situated in the “Paris of Appalachia” – a title often designated to Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh-born and Northern Appalachian writer himself, Blackmore describes the significance of writing about the nature and places that define this city and its surrounding areas.

“If we’re all about place and nature, it only makes sense that we would focus on the place in which we’re located,” Blackmore said.

Non-Appalachian writers can learn from the place-based descriptive and structural techniques of Appalachian literature, too.

“As someone who doesn’t write specifically Appalachian lit, one of my goals in the MFA program is to be able to ground my writing in place a lot better,” Slepian said.

The MFA in creative writing program offers numerous classes on nature and place-based writing honoring Rachel Carson – the iconic Chatham alumna who made her mark on the world as a scientist, environmental advocate and a creative writer. In accordance, “The Fourth River,” the program’s national literary journal, focuses on place-based writing. The Appalachian Writers Series continues this tradition, expanding upon the work Chatham’s creative writing students and faculty have been developing for years.

Blackmore anticipates the future of the Appalachian Writers Series, has started planning events for the upcoming term and looks forward to the series’ continued success for years to come. He plans to submit a proposal for a permanent Appalachian Literature class for undergraduate and MFA students. 

He encourages everyone – undergradate and graduate students, faculty and community members alike – to attend the upcoming events in the series. 

“I think it’s so important, especially now, especially with everything that’s going on in the world right now, to be a good literary citizen and to support especially local authors, especially authors of color and queer authors and people from your community, Chatham alums,” Slepian said. “I feel like it’s, on our personal level, one of the best things that you can do for yourself and for your community.”

Neema Avashia will visit Chatham next after Frank X. Walker 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in Mellon Board Room, reading from her memoir “Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place.”