In the relaxed atmosphere of Beaird Lounge on the University of Oklahoma campus, opening night was filled with lively conversation and an excellent array of readings from several Oklahoma poets, and short fiction readings by Mia Couto who was assisted by his translator David Brookshaw.
Oklahoma poet laureate Nathan Brown along with fellow “Okie” poets Dorothy Alexander, Ken Hada, Julia McConnell, and Benjamin Myers read from their own books as well as from a recently published anthology of poetry titled Oklahoma Poems… and Their Poets which was recently edited and published by Brown to raise money for the Oklahoma Humanities Council.
Following the readings by local authors, 2014 Neustadt Prize laureate Mia Couto took the stage to introduce his writing. Explaining how writing became a refuge for him, Couto spoke with fervor and handed the mic over to David Brookshaw, who read several excerpts from Couto’s books.
Stay tuned this morning for more Neustadt Festival events on the University of Oklahoma campus, and don’t miss the keynote talk with Mia Couto on Friday morning at 11 a.m.
