Writer Visits Redlands - City News Group

David Treuer, an award-winning Native American author, spoke at the University of Redlands last Thursday as part of a monthly event called the Visiting Writers Series. Treuer is an Ojibwe Indian, growing up on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. He graduated from Princeton University in 1992 and obtained his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1999. Some of Treuer's published books include "Little" (1995), "The Translation of Dr. Apelles" (2006), and his most recent work, "Rez Life: An Indian's Journey through Reservation Life" (2012). He has had his work featured in Esquire, The LA Times, and The New York Times to name a few. At the start of the event, Treuer gave a brief introduction about himself and then quickly dove into discussing his book "Rez Life." He first commented on how he is one of the few Native American authors that writes non-fiction, and it's a piece of cake because one just has to simply "go out and find the truth." But it wasn't as easy as it seemed due to a disagreement of what his editor wanted versus what he wanted to write. "I had a mission," he said. "Not to avail myself of the same old story." The excerpt that Treuer read from "Rez Life" was primarily based upon his family life in Minnesota leading up to his grandfather's suicide. Although it was a time of hardship for him, he managed to mix humor and amusement within his storytelling. Treuer then was asked to write his grandfather's eulogy. He agreed and explained to the audience that a eulogy should say something truthful about the person, in addition to having some utility attached to it since it's essentially advice for the living. After his discussion, the inquisitive audience had the opportunity to ask him some questions. "What was your revision process?" One audience member asked. "My first draft went to the garbage," Treuer said. "For my second draft my editor wanted straight repertoire and history, but they first got to know who I am because they have to trust me (the writer). It's about finding the right balance between the parts and organizing each chapter thematically." The event concluded with some refreshments, available books, and a book signing by Treuer himself. "His presentation was down to Earth. There was a real connection explaining his perspective on the reservation," said Henry Vasquez, a satisfied member from the audience. On Thursday, March 27, 2014, Ralph Angel, a current faculty member at the University of Redlands, will be the next author to attend the Visiting Writers Series. It will be held in the Hall of Letters 100 at the University of Redlands. The event is sponsored by the university's Creative Writing department as well as the Office of Campus Diversity & Inclusion. [END] Visiting Writers Series w/Univ of Redlands Date: Thursday, February 13, 2014 Time: 7:30 p.m. Event Location: University of Redlands Address: 1200 E. Colton Ave. Redlands CA 92373 Description: University of Redlands to host writer David Treuer, Award-winning Native American writer. Held at Hall of Letters 100. Event Contact: Starla Strain Starla_Strain@redlands.edu 909-748-8260 University of Redlands to host Native American writer David Treuer Award-winning writer to be part of the Creative Writing Program lecture series REDLANDS, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2014) The University of Redlands Creative Writing program will host its Visiting Writers Series and present the award-winning Native American writer David Treuer on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in Hall of Letters Room 100. The Creative Writing program’s goal is to bring highly regarded writers of diverse backgrounds and approaches to campus to share their work and interact with students, faculty and the larger Redlands community. David Treuer is an Ojibwe indian from Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. Treuer is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, the 1996 Minnesota Book Award and fellowships from the NEH, Bush Foundation and the Guggenheim Foundation. Dr. Treuer graduated from Princeton University in 1992 and published his first novel, Little, in 1995. Treuer received his Ph.D. in anthropology and published his second novel, The Hiawatha, in 1999. His third novel The Translation of Dr Apelles and a book of criticism, Native American Fiction; A User's Manual appeared in 2006. The Translation of Dr Apelles was named a Best Book of the Year by the Washington Post, Time Out and City Pages. Treuer published his first major work of nonfiction, Rez Life, in 2012. His essays and stories have appeared in Esquire,TriQuarterly, Washington Post, Lucky Peach, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Slate.com. Treuer divides his time between his home on the Leech Lake Reservation and Los Angeles, where he is a Professor of Literature at University of Southern California. Recent visitors to the University of Redlands Visiting Writers Series have included Marianne Boruch, the 2013 recipient of the nation’s largest prize in poetry, the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, for her collection The Book of Hours; Dana Spiotta, whose novels Eat the Document and Stone Arabia were both finalists for the National Book Award; David L. Ulin, the Book Critic for the Los Angeles Times and the poet Amy Gerstler, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. WHAT: University of Redlands Visiting Writers Series WHO: Award-winning Native American writer and Professor of Literature at University of Southern California, David Treuer WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. WHERE: University of Redlands, Hall of Letters 100 1200 E. Colton Ave, Redlands, CA 92373